Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

L'Incivilité des fantômes by Rivers Solomon

75 reviews

ehmannky's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

A fantastic read. It's not often that you find works of science fiction that truly feel like they get and come from the lineage of Octavia Butler, but that's the only author whose work I can think of that relates to this work. It deals with hierarchies in a similar way, but Solomon's writing shows that the recreation of hierarchies, especially within a society like America, is not going to be solved by simply getting off planet. 

Also this isn't, like, smart or insightful like so many of the other reviews here but

I am so glad Theo wasn't secretly evil. I am so glad I loved his character so much.

TW: A lot of talk of suicide, suicide ideation, suicidal tendencies, etc. I feel like most people who get into the book like me are aware that it's going to incorporate slavery and get into the graphic and horrific slavery based on the real life horrors of America, but I do not know if I was aware of just how much suicide was in this book. As someone with a personal experience with loss from suicide, it wasn't enough to put me off, but it could be for others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Slavery, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Grief, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Homophobia and Drug use

Minor: Pregnancy

spacerkip's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Abortion, Bullying, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Rape, and Racial slurs

megplant's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence

blandblanket's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Abortion, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Vomit

The book -- as marvelous a read as it is -- does handle a lot of heavy topics that could be too much for some readers. As it deals with topics of classism/racism/colorism/sexism, there are many instances in the book that talk about those topics and the struggles that come with them -- physical, social, and mental. The main character does talk quite a bit in medical terms and performs/assists in medical procedures. There is content re: physical/sexual assault and allusions to it. Though not explicit or detailed, it could be sensitive to some readers just to read/hear references to those sort of events.

deepfriedaries's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Violence

dagmarrugosa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was beautifully and lyrically written conceptual sci fi that  leans into complex themes surrounding racism, human culture, social class, and  the power of religion to control people. It  explores diversity of bodies and gender and neurotypes all within the world of a rigid society living on a colony ship traveling from space away from a ravaged earth. I love sci fi like this where the science and tech is not the primary focus, though it is there, but instead the  focus is on the people and their inner worlds.  Definitely an intense and  often  graphic read.  If themes  surrounding sexual assault and racially charged violence are hard for you, this would be a challenging read.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Medical content, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

espeon's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

i thought the book was overall good, but the way dialogue is written is like...i know for aster it's supposed to be awkward, because she's awkward at talking, but for people like flick it took me right out. it felt like everyone basically had the same voice in their speech, which meant everyone talked awkwardly just like aster.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Transphobia, and Violence

neithernor's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, and Child abuse

skudiklier's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book is incredibly engaging and unique. It would be easy to describe it as

slavery but in space

and nothing else but that, but there's so much more to it. Because there's a different hierarchical system in place, it shows new ways people maintain control over others. Additionally, the relationships between the various characters are so complex, and it doesn't take the easy way out of focusing on some sort of romance as a happy ending. Also, side note,

Aster is totally autistic and I really loved getting to see myself in her character in that way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence

triptych_turning's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was an amazing read, with exceptional characters, some amazing worldbuilding, and flawless emotional undertones. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone, and then some. My only final comment is that I would imagine that it is pretty trigger-heavy, so keep that in mind if reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence