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Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
7 reviews
autumnk3lly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5/5 Stars
All in all, I enjoyed this. Which is unusual because I despise sci-fi with every inch of my being. The relation between Blue and Red and the tragedy it tells? Immaculate. If I wasn't at work when I finished reading it, I probably would have cried. Blue and Red are written so beautifully, reading their letters and seeing how they conveyed their love. The romance and enemies-to-lovers were well done. I only give it 3.5 though because of how confused I was for the first 70ish pages. I for the life of me could not figure out what the braids were, what Garden and Agency was. I didn't realize until about halfway through it was time travel. So I still don't like sci-fi, it's confusing. But if you look past the science-space mess, it's beautiful.
All in all, I enjoyed this. Which is unusual because I despise sci-fi with every inch of my being. The relation between Blue and Red and the tragedy it tells? Immaculate. If I wasn't at work when I finished reading it, I probably would have cried. Blue and Red are written so beautifully, reading their letters and seeing how they conveyed their love. The romance and enemies-to-lovers were well done. I only give it 3.5 though because of how confused I was for the first 70ish pages. I for the life of me could not figure out what the braids were, what Garden and Agency was. I didn't realize until about halfway through it was time travel. So I still don't like sci-fi, it's confusing. But if you look past the science-space mess, it's beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Suicide
Minor: Physical abuse
haleymk's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, and Murder
Minor: Torture, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Grief
effievee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War, Physical abuse, and Death
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
kshertz's review
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
This is such a romantic story. I couldn’t get over the beauty with the letters that they wrote each other. They wrote to each other in very creative ways as well. I do think it may have been a little too smart for me like some of the plot went over my head and there’s no world building you’re just in the world right away. Otherwise this is a five star read for me because it’s so amazing. It’s such a short book and yet you feel so much for these two individuals fighting against time and circumstance. I loved it. I think everyone should read it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
queer and weird!
this short and sweet sci-fi book not only captures a love story between red and blue, but in that same breath captures the audience's attention— asking us to think critically about what we know about war, love, and what it means to truly feel and find a sense of belonging in a world that constantly shields you from that. this last point reigns particularly true, especially considering that this is a story about queerness (though this story is not one of coming out). The queerness I refer to here goes beyond the sapphic bounds of the characters to capture and reflect overarching feelings and struggles with feeling a kind of alienation and isolation from society, lying in the non-normativity that pegs the way for self-realization. what i really appreciated about this book was the ode it pays to the lyrical loneliness, one that brings those who go into the book excited back to earth and gives a warm hug to those who struggle with feelings of being lost and lonely, wondering the difference between what it means to be alive and what it means to live— and what to do when you feel utterly alone at the edge of that. paired with (not entirely clear but definitely there) allusions to shakespeare, socrates, plato's symposium, this book was really enjoyable!
this is not to say that this book is perfect. one of the main issues i had was the repetitive writing style, which at times made it hard to get through. in addition, i think at times the language was so flowery and (the poetic ye-old) 'trying too hard' to be meaningful, that, paired with a plotline as strange as this one, failed to deliver. i also think that this book could have done well if it were longer and had more with the concept of the time war. while i think that this concept is really cool, i often felt like it was more of an 'in the background' rather than holding something more concrete. as is the case with me and most novels, i also thought that them falling for each other read a bit rushed at times, though i will admit that i think the twist at the end was done moderately well (one moment where i think the redundant style did the overarching themes and plotlines dirty). despite this, this book was really enjoyable, and in the modern day there aren't many queer romance novellas that really do something like this anymore, so i commemorate the two authors.
this short and sweet sci-fi book not only captures a love story between red and blue, but in that same breath captures the audience's attention— asking us to think critically about what we know about war, love, and what it means to truly feel and find a sense of belonging in a world that constantly shields you from that. this last point reigns particularly true, especially considering that this is a story about queerness (though this story is not one of coming out). The queerness I refer to here goes beyond the sapphic bounds of the characters to capture and reflect overarching feelings and struggles with feeling a kind of alienation and isolation from society, lying in the non-normativity that pegs the way for self-realization. what i really appreciated about this book was the ode it pays to the lyrical loneliness, one that brings those who go into the book excited back to earth and gives a warm hug to those who struggle with feelings of being lost and lonely, wondering the difference between what it means to be alive and what it means to live— and what to do when you feel utterly alone at the edge of that. paired with (not entirely clear but definitely there) allusions to shakespeare, socrates, plato's symposium, this book was really enjoyable!
this is not to say that this book is perfect. one of the main issues i had was the repetitive writing style, which at times made it hard to get through. in addition, i think at times the language was so flowery and (the poetic ye-old) 'trying too hard' to be meaningful, that, paired with a plotline as strange as this one, failed to deliver. i also think that this book could have done well if it were longer and had more with the concept of the time war. while i think that this concept is really cool, i often felt like it was more of an 'in the background' rather than holding something more concrete. as is the case with me and most novels, i also thought that them falling for each other read a bit rushed at times, though i will admit that i think the twist at the end was done moderately well (one moment where i think the redundant style did the overarching themes and plotlines dirty). despite this, this book was really enjoyable, and in the modern day there aren't many queer romance novellas that really do something like this anymore, so i commemorate the two authors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Blood
Moderate: Murder and Physical abuse
aidamaria_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This Is How You Lose the Time War is such a strange, compelling, brain-breaking and beautiful story. Just like about all other people I’ve seen posting a review about this time travelling tale, I’m pretty sure I might have to reread it (maybe even twice) to be able to grasp all things going on. However, I loved the letters Red and Blue sent each other and the way their connection blossomed over the course of their correspondence. I you like odd, character-driven stories that get you all in your feels, you should give this one a go. I’m giving it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and I can only marvel at how the authors managed to piece this all together.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War
rhymeswithnova's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
I would've enjoyed this more as a broader story. The very close focus on the two perspective characters is ordinarily something I love, but I couldn't really imagine and sink my teeth into the setting here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Physical abuse, and Confinement
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