Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or, on the Segregation of the Queen by Laurie R. King

5 reviews

hannah_hall's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Racism

seaschells's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

There’s a very uncomfortable scene where white characters dress up as Roma people by darkening their faces. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation

eamily's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Car accident, Gun violence, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Police brutality, War, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Confinement, Cancer, Torture, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide

acoffeeandagoodbook's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

This attempts to tell a feminist Sherlock Holmes story, but I found Mary Russell the worst kind of "not like other girls" Mary-Sue. She is beautiful, has a mind to match Holmes, is wealthy, is excellent at physical pursuits, can create perfect disguises...the list goes on and on, and all at the age of 15. I found Mary deeply irritating. 

Sherlock Holmes is pretty out of character for most of the book and spends a lot of time talking about how wonderful Russell is compared to the bumbling idiot Watson. I really disliked the constant putting down of Watson. I'm not sure King has actually read much Sherlock Holmes, or she'd know that these two men have a lot of love and respect for each other. Watson might not be a teenage genius, but he's not a fool. 

The mystery itself is a fun read, with satisfying twists and turns. The clues for the final reveal are all laid, without giving everything away. The fun story saved this book from being a DNF, even though the characters were largely unlikeable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

hafable's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Gun violence