Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Bear and the Nightingale

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

72 reviews

foxwish's review against another edition

I cannot force myself to read the rest of this boring story with one dimensional characters, poor pacing and jarring POV changes.

Content Warnings

jenni_sunderland's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Liked the imagery and the creatures but would have preferred it without the casual sexism and sexual assault. I understand that it was set in a time where women were deemed less and their whole purpose and duty was marriage and children but it is annoying

Content Warnings

itspronouncedtessa's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.75

I want to love this book so bad. It's beautifully written, the fairy tale is strong and the Slavic folklore is fascinating. It could have easily been a 5 star read.

But.

Do modern writers understand they're writing fiction? An untrue story, something they, in fact, made up? Even if it's "grounded in the realities of rural life at the time", it's still fiction.
The author admitted she'd fudged with the ages of actual historical figures to better fit the story, but when it comes to the fictional characters, she just has to, needs to, have a middle-aged man (who we are supposed to root for) marry and rape a child? Repeatedly? And describe him longing for her "tight body"?

Why? It did not serve the plot and absolutely nothing would have been different if the ages had been changed. If there had been a smidgen of consent.

"But it's historically accurate"
Motherfucker, it's a fairy tale. There are demons and winter gods roaming your forest. But no, a grown woman being okay with sharing her new husband's bed, that's too unbelievable.

I won't be reading the sequels.

Content Warnings

eerielux's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

saskiajva's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.5

It was definitely an interesting book and i am curious about the next one! I do think there are some things the author can hone; i wasn’t a fan of the political or marriage plot lines as it didn’t really capture my interest, and I would love to see some higher stakes. I highly recommend googling the creatures discussed while you read as it adds a lot to the book!

Content Warnings

kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This was a quick yet lush read. I love folklore so this universe was very much my cup of tea. The men in this book are disgusting and annoying in turns, which checks out for that time period and in general.

My only complaint was that it felt like Anna’s “power” wasn’t explored much, but then I saw the dreaded word on the digital cover: trilogy. Guess I’m strapped in for more, though I think I would’ve really liked this as a stand-alone

Content Warnings

nightmarebees's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

the first half was a 3 and the second half was a 4. i loved East by edith pattou as a teen and this reminded me very much of that book at points. something about wintery folktales.

the first half felt so slow, but at the same time i couldn’t put it down and finished the book in two days, so? it really drew out the parts of the fairytale that are usually only a few sentences at the beginning, if that makes any sense. the characters who would be side characters are more fleshed out, and the fluid POV is interesting to read when it goes between them.

i will definitely be picking up book 2 from the library

Content Warnings