Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf by Malika Moustadraf

2 reviews

jayisreading's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

This was an interesting collection of short stories from the late author, Malika Moustadraf. I appreciated her highlighting the experiences of women and queer people in Morocco in these stories, especially since they are in a deeply conservative society due to religion and tradition. Moustadraf creates sites of resistance in so many of her characters, all of them standing up to patriarchy and misogyny that they face on a day-to-day basis. Were there happy endings? Not really, no. The stories were bleak, and it was clearly deliberate to really shine a light on how Moroccan society failed some of its most vulnerable groups. (An aside, kind of, but this includes disabled people, which she highlights in one of her stories.)

There were so many fascinating themes and issues covered in this collection, but the reason I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to was because every story was far too short. Maybe it was because of Moustadraf’s health that she was unable to expand on these ideas, I don’t know. I just wish there was more, and it’s heartbreaking to know that we won’t be able to read more of her sharp writing.
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lisadakeii's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

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