Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

22 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

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

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

criticalmiss's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I really wish I liked this more than I did. The book is broken up into three acts and the third act was my favourite. 
There is a magic system that I didn’t fully follow and would have loved more explanation on, that I think would have allowed me to connect more to the story and the characters.
That being said, the main character is a fire cracker , she’s resilient and finds her power. 
Nghi Vo has passages that were so beautiful written in here. And some gorgeous sapphic representation in here. 
In the end this wasn’t my fave read but it might be yours.
TW: death, SA

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Sexual assault

rosieryel's review against another edition

mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

similar in style and concept to the  chosen and the beautiful but this one actually worked better for me! the supernatural/magical elements worked more seamlessly into this world though there were still a couple times where the distinction between metaphor and reality got confusing instead of fun and mysterious. i wish it had been a little longer and the epilogue expanded into a few chapters but i do understand the choice to end it where it was but it could have profited from being a little longer generally and just going slightly deeper into the secondary characters (harry, tara, the sister, jane, emmaline) but maybe that would’ve dragged out the pacing and it’s just because i enjoyed and just wanted more :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Homophobia and Sexual assault

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Abortion and Sexual assault