Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo

4 reviews

milliemudd's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, and Sexism

Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

jayisreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

I admit that The Brides of High Hill isn’t my favorite from The Singing Hills Cycle, but I do commend Vo for switching things up by adding a Gothic horror atmosphere to the novella. Furthermore, it’s no longer just Chih telling/collecting stories; they’re actually in the story themself now (though we got a sense of that in the previous novella). As always, Vo brings sharp and beautiful prose to this novella, so there isn’t anything in particular to critique on that front. I think the reason I didn’t feel nearly as invested in this latest installment is perhaps a result of wanting a change of pace in the series in general. You could argue that this book is a change of pace, and I can’t help but wonder if Vo is switching gears, based on the subtle changes in storytelling style in the latest two installments. I guess time will tell, depending on when the next book comes out, which I will still happily read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Blood and Gore

Minor: Sexual violence

ceruleanseas's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Cleric Chih is on a new adventure, this time accompanying a young woman and her family as they travel to her betrothed's estate. When they get there, something seems not-quite-right, but Chih can't quite figure out what. The lord's son is mad, none of the servants will meet their eyes, and there are rumors swirling about the fates of the lord's previous wives. Determined to protect their new friend, Chih starts exploring, but there are more secrets than even they expect. 

This book definitely leans more towards gothic/horror than the rest of the series, and Vo does such an excellent job at worldbuilding that I didn't mind at all. There are twists at the end, some that were obvious and others that were less so, but it's really about the journey, not the destination, right? 

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group for the advanced reader's copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Confinement, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual violence and Grief

uranaishi's review

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Drug abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, Gaslighting, Rape, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse