Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

12 reviews

abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review

I was really looking forward to reading this book, as I've loved Nghi Vo's Singing Hills Cycle. Unfortunately, I think the content of this particular novel is a bit too disturbing/triggering for me in the current head space I'm in. I will definitely be revisiting at a better time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

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

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

If I had read this book as a teenager, I would have been obsessed with it.  There are monsters straight out of fairy tales and myths, classic Old Hollywood stories, love stories, different kinds of magic.... Unfortunately, as an adult, it felt a bit lacking for me, even though I did enjoy it.  This is supposedly a few different novella ideas brought together, and that makes sense to me.  There is a lot going on here.  In spite of that, I did want a bit MORE, more explanations, more world building, more stakes to this world.  The magic systems are vague and just mentioned without deeper explanations, and people can become immortal by becoming actual stars in the sky, but they are still alive?  I get the metaphor about immortality and fame, but my literal brain wants to know how that WORKS.  :) The main character basically just gets whatever she wants and doesn't grow much.  There is great LGBTQ rep, although the characters sadly have to keep who they are quiet.  The main character is a child of Chinese immigrants, and has to deal with racism, as well, and she fights back against being the stereotypical roles.  She is called a monster, I guess because of her drive and cold-nature in going after what she wants.  I was kind of hoping she would become a true monster and maybe strike some blows against the patriarchy.  I would not call this a horror by any stretch of the imagination, more like a beautiful but unsettling dream.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Outing, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Cultural appropriation, Rape, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Outing, and Xenophobia

kathleencoughlin's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.25

Siren Queen, like the Vo's other works, is fantastical, dark, cinematic, and (most importantly) queer. It also brings a nuanced perspective on the intersection of race and gender is a specific historical context. I never felt like I totally understood the magic, but honestly it just adds to the vampy, mysterious  vibe

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Misogyny, Body horror, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Murder, Abortion, Confinement, Violence, and Outing

leanne_miron's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Death

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

lucystolethesky's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Kidnapping, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia

mothie_girlie's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

readandfindout's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Style/writing: 5 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Abortion

Minor: Sexual assault

mandkips's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

enasbookshelves's review

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Full disclosure: I took nearly two weeks to finish this book. In my defense, elections happened in my country. But apart from that, while films are meant to be consumed in one sitting, this magnificent book about what it takes to be in film is something to be chewed slowly and thoughtfully, for maximum impact. And wow, did it impact me! It’s only my second time reading anything by Nghi Vo, but her prose always seems to take the humble Declarative Sentence to a higher plane.

Every layer in Siren Queen is rich and adds value to the larger story; every fantasy element a brilliant, uncanny metaphor. In a world where it is cishet white men and their stories that are granted immortality, Nghi Vo empowers that which is rarely told, if told at all, but without pretending that the world has magically turned kinder towards everything that is not straight, white, or male. My only actual complaint is that there were too many transitory characters — mostly actors whom the main character meets once, or whose projects are mentioned in passing then are never heard from again — that made me glad that e-readers come with highlight and bookmark functions. Then again, is Hollywood not full of short-lived, meteoric careers behind, around, and in front of the camera?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Addiction

Minor: Fire/Fire injury