Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

125 reviews

teresalee's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Picked this up on a whim because it was prominently displayed on my library's large-text shelf and I was not familiar with the author.  It turned out to be a dark, comedic look at sexism, misogyny, and caste in India, that I couldn't wait to get back to.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Bullying, Classism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Cursing, and Sexism

jotee76's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful 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

I liked that issues relating to the caste system were highlighted as well as honour based violence and treatment of women in India.  However,  I get a sense that the author was writing this with view to being made into a film, with elements of the narrative becoming farcical, bordering on slapstick,  which was a bit distracting.  Overall, I enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Death, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infertility, and Racial slurs

ewayne's review against another edition

emotional funny sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual violence, and Rape

baguettekelly's review against another edition

dark funny

3.75

A violent, stirring, brutal, and curiously funny revenge story with great female characters and an immersive setting in an Indian village.  Not an easy read but worth the challenge.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Murder

emg3's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.75

The blurb was the best bit of this book. There was quite a lot of tactlessness and, though I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, it just felt offensive and insensitive sometimes. Maybe I missed something crucial while reading, but it really felt like the most important parts of this book were given the fewest words. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Classism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Islamophobia

athenas99's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

This book has so much heart. The pacing was a bit odd, especially in the middle of the book

when Geeta is dealing with the falllout of her first murder and ends up being at odds with her accomplice, Farah

. However, I really enjoyed the woman-centered plot line and the feminist themes. Geeta, like many women in her community and around the world, is a survivor of abuse and it was really wonderful to watch her grow into a feminist mindset and wake up to all kinds of injustice. I loved watching her and her childhood best friend Saloni find their way back to each other after men and the demands of marriage pulled them apart. Despite dealing nimbly with difficult subject matter like sexual assault, domestic violence and caste discrimination, the book remains humorous and lighthearted. A wonderful read for women’s history month.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Domestic abuse

koz108's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, and Misogyny

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infertility, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Murder, Domestic abuse, Classism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse

piscesreturn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Wow! It took me a long time to come back to this, but it is great. I love that the main characters are all older women receiving their due justice. I think it's a textbook study in IPV, Indian misogyny, and revenge. Powerful and lovely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Death

dotirene's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault