Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

58 reviews

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

5.0

This book is dark and uses magical realism as a magnifying glass to explore concepts within stardom that are quite toxic and harmful. There were characters that I wish had been explored more as their lightness was a breath of fresh air. There were story threads that weren't quite tied securely.

For example Jane appears and disappears without much interaction in the story. The parents just get replica dolls of both of their daughters and choose to live in delusion? Said dolls have the presence and ability to abuse the daughter that stayed? This could have been magic or the actions of deluded parents trying to prevent at least one child from defying expectations or growing into her own person but it wasn't explored so we'll never know. I did somewhat appreciate how the relationship with Tara went as it is something to be said about idol worship.

The audiobook is a fantastic experience, especially since the lyrical nature of the writing feels very natural. This is a person directly telling you the story. I fear this technique would not translate as readily to the page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Abortion, Sexual assault, and Body horror

narzibenoucdel's review

adventurous dark 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Bullying, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Torture, and Violence

szuum's review

dark mysterious medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

ka_cam's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

4.0

Enjoyed the writing, the magical realism, the lesbianism/queerness! Some sections dragged a bit but all and all an interested read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Classism, Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Lesbophobia

lyssylyssy's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Body horror, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Outing, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Sexual content

mollieweitzman's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Sexual assault

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, and Bullying

Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Child death, Vomit, War, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Outing, and Pregnancy

sparklefarm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

This. This. This is what Evelyn Hugo was trying to be. Siren Queen is a dazzling look at the power and control underneath the shimmer and shine of Hollywood. Wild and weird, gorgeous, exquisite.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy

sashahc's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

"Siren Queen" by Nghi Vo takes place in pre-Code Hollywood.  Chinese American Luli Wei is growing up in a Chinese Laundry in Los Angeles, but desperately wants to be a movie star. She is willing to give up part of her soul to get there, and given that the movie studios are run by the fae, she may have to.  Her requirements are “No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.”  She falls into a magical world of backstabbing, danger, and passion.  The book is about being an ambitious and proud outsider in a white and straight world, and choosing what to risk and what to fight for.  It’s a beautifully written, deeply queer, and rather melancholy 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Homophobia

peggymay's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual content, Body horror, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Murder, Homophobia, Misogyny, Classism, Sexual assault, Violence, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Addiction, Cultural appropriation, and Body shaming