Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

66 reviews

mondovertigo's review

dark funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infertility, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Murder, Domestic abuse, Classism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse

thetearex's review

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Mental illness, Rape, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Infertility, Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Violence

erinngus's review

dark funny 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? Yes

3.75

This book was and wasn't what I expected. It was terribly funny, focusing on female friendship, and- at points- very dark and reflective of women's place in patriarchy and caste systems. Characters felt relatable and realistic, rounded out with equal flaws and endearing qualities. The many twists and chapter cliffhangers made it feel like a soap opera in the best way. However, I do feel like the final villain and ending climax scene was too cartoonish. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Bullying, Infertility, Classism, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting

queerandtalkative's review

dark funny 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Violence, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Rape, Death, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, and Police brutality

Minor: Death of parent, Torture, and Infertility

unlikelyplaces's review against another edition

4.0

Bandit Queens - Parini Shroff

⭐️ - 4

🎧

Bandit Queens is a dark, literary comedy set in a small village in India. It follows Geeta, who is quite happy to let the rest of the town believe the rumours that she murdered her husband because she just wants to be left alone. But things get more complicated when another woman in the village asks her for help with murdering her own husband.

Although a “comedy”, this novel has so much depth to it. It deals a lot with themes of domestic abuse, the trauma that women suffer at the hands of men, and the importance of sisterhood.

My main criticism of this was that it took a while for me to get into, it was quite a slow start and I didn’t really feel invested until about half way through, but once it picked up I was hooked.

But other than that I loved this. It would be a great one for a book club or a buddy read, I feel like there’s so much to discuss about this story and I would recommend to pretty much everyone (please look at the trigger warnings though).

❗️Content Warnings (SPOILERS): on page s3xual assault, domestic abuse (this is a major theme), vomit, animal cruelty, alcoholism, infertility

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty

Minor: Infertility and Vomit

nedermg's review

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious reflective fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Classism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Rape, Violence, and Pedophilia

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

4.75

Okay, wow. I’ve just finished this. Read the last 110-ish pages without much of a break - it was just a propulsive, almost addictive read! Really glad I kept at it as I started off thinking it might have been the “wrong time” for me to read this, but I thankfully kept at it and it really didn’t take long for me to be so engrossed in this.
Amazing and fascinating characters, folklore beautifully interwoven, social commentary through caste and gender and religious discourse. I really enjoyed this.
If you have thought about picking up this book, you will be glad you did.
It is just fab and for many reasons; there is the thriller-y vibes, the dark humour, the dark themes included as well, the friendships, miscommunication, mystery, character development, the spotlight on isolation and loneliness as well. Yeah, so much is included and done very well imo.

I looooved Kareem and his son. And Saloni’s son. And Saloni. The joy they brought to Geeta’s life and this story was the most adorable thing that made this book have a special place in my memory for a very long while, I suspect. I’m so happy that Farah ended up a bonobo, iykyk. And Bandit was the cutest addition ever!! Made such a massive difference. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Infertility, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

queeniecraft's review

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child death, Sexual harassment, Murder, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Violence, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Rape, Religious bigotry, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Drug use, Cursing, Suicide, Islamophobia, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Pregnancy, Classism, and Toxic relationship

kittencardigan's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Fun page turner with a lot of heart, humor, and revenge.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Alcoholism, and Animal cruelty

dielizabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I laughed, cried, and screamed, sometimes all at once. Completely amazing. Vivid characters and brilliant representation of flawed and complex friendships. Emphasis on the myriad challenges women face the world over. It also gave me a small, relatable window into a place and a culture completely unfamiliar to me. The best book I've read recently.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infertility and Animal cruelty

While the content includes many difficult topics, the author manages them with grace, empathy, and even wry, dark humor.