Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Reputation by Lex Croucher

18 reviews

allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Inspired by Mean Girls, this regency story has all the casual cruelty and grappling for social currency that one would expect. The references are complete with a chapter that begins, "Get in, Georgiana. We're going shopping." Frances Campbell is our Queen Bee, and protagonist Georgiana is eager to become her latest sycophant, wanting an injection of reckless fun into her boring summer. The book showcases characters with a complete disregard for social norms whereas most regency romps only manage tepid or pointed departures from what is socially acceptable. Envision illicit drugs of all types, nude frolicking, and a complete lack of chaperones. The story takes a look at how a certain level of class and money excuses all else. The constraints on the behavior of middle and lower-class persons are mere suggestions for the elite, easy to ignore when the consequences are so ephemeral. This is another way it sets itself apart from historical fiction that emphasizes social pressures on aristocrats.

The story has a quick, biting wit akin to Georgiana's own subversive, barbed remarks. Several funny asides made me laugh aloud. Also, letter banter is the BEST banter, and this one delivers in that category 100%. I was unconvinced of the central romance plot til the correspondence started up halfway through, and then I suddenly found myself on board. It was that high quality.

While reading, my stress level was high, even though I knew all the bad decisions and situations were building up to a lesson to be learned. It comes at a steep price for many characters involved. The emphasis on needing to be cool or seem above everyone else made me cringe, with side helpings of peer pressure and harassment, bullying and exclusionary tactics. Add in quick judgments and nasty put-downs to make oneself feel superior. It offers a deep view of the root causes of the characters' behaviors. For example, our protagonist Georgiana is spinning out in bitter rebellion after being abandoned by cold, distant parents. She seeks affection and belonging at any cost.

There are several content warnings of note for this story: sexual assault on-page and other incidents that occur off-page with physical and psychological harm explored, gaslighting and victim-blaming following claims of assault, racism and slavery, homophobia/lesbophobia, domestic abuse, toxic relationships, a lot of alcohol and other substance abuse, and parental neglect. The author takes a worthy stand on the proper response to assault claims and offers a glimpse into a diverse regency world hampered by prejudice but not whitewashed or offering queer characters as mere sidekicks. It's an interesting book that manages to be difficult to read at some points, uproariously funny at others, sometimes reflective and other times barreling forward. It was a compelling read, and I am curious to see what the author does next.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Colonisation

casc8a's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic friendship

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Sexual harassment

emily_mh's review

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

I had so much fun with this one! It was such a good retelling of Mean Girls, super entertaining, and with writing as witty and concise as Austen’s. I also loved the romance between Georgiana and Thomas! My only issues were that Georgiana’s conflict with her parents and the climax action felt a little undeveloped. 

As a side note, I listened to the audiobook read by Bessie Carter, who did an incredible job bringing the story to life. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Loss of a loved one (including brother), sick parent, chronic migraines (in a minor character), toxic parents

booksandcat's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book. It was so easy to get into and kept me interested all the way through. The characters all felt very multidimensional. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery

bookwyrm_roo's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism and Slavery

aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Colonisation

pippapineapple's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism, Slavery, Blood, and Death of parent

ladyfaceplant's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely brilliant. Received this book early from my preorder and read it in two days. All of the characters are complex and dynamic, no more than Georgiana, who I quickly came to love despite her flaws. It's the kind of book that I couldn't help but react aloud to. At one point I involuntarily gave quite an evil chuckle which very much startled my partner! So funny but also entirely heart wrenching. The dreamy yet grounded romance which definitely felt like a modern response to Jane Austen. The writing itself is sharp and funny and altogether a delight to read. I was very sad to finish this one and as I have no idea what a sequel might be, I will simply have to wait with bated breath for another book from Lex Croucher.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Death of parent