Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

135 reviews

blewballoon's review against another edition

Really not loving this so far. It's a bit too crass and unpleasant; there were 3+ mentions of casual sexual assault in the first 5% of the book. It feels like everyone is just abusing each other, or making whatever the most selfish and impulsive choice is that they can make. All the side characters seem to be there to add more awful texture. I think you're meant to sympathize with the main character and her bad choices, but the writing is missing the mark because I don't feel anything for her apart from mild exasperation.

It reminds me of some other books I read narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (Hester, God of Endings, Little Thieves), but she didn't narrate this one and I wonder if she could have made it much better if she did. I can take some grit and darkness, but I need there to be a sense of hope and change to get me through the sloggy parts. I am not finding that here.

This is my first Leigh Bardugo book, and if this is a good indicator of her writing style, I don't think I like it. I had high hopes since I know her books are quite successful, and this premise interested me, but hopefully this is a fluke and I'll have better success with one of her other books in the future.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Religious bigotry

queerloras's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This was gorgeous. I didn't understand it properly the first time I don't think, but I'll be rereading it again just for the beauty of the prose so that's not an issue.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Torture, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

sarahsbooklife's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Honestly, I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this book. I knew very little, just that it was set in late 16th century Spain and a woman could do magic. And I'm glad that I didn't have any expectations going into this book.
It has a bit of a slow start. When I was reading it, it felt like it took longer than it actually did for characters to be introduced and for the plot to actually start. The overall pacing of the book is pretty slow. Maybe that's because I never felt like there were particularly highstakes for the characters. I was pretty sure that the main couple would get a happy ending even if no one else did. Although, towards the end I did begin to doubt that. 
I wouldn't say that this book was amazing. It was good and I enjoyed reading it. But it's not one that I would recommend to everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Mental illness, Slavery, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

shrumpscompi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Probably the most quotable book I’ve ever read. I want to read it again and write down half of it to repeat in conversation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual assault

kristinallard's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry

blacksphinx's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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: Death, Misogyny, Torture, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Gore, Islamophobia, Dementia, and War

zolifetimebookaddict's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

All though a slow starter this really gathers pace as the book moves on. More world building in the middle of the book would have been amazing! I enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, and Blood

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder

smileynat04's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Torture

turtles555's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

The individual stories of the very unique journeys the leads embark on brings brilliantly to life the disturbing presence of patriarchal societies. Top notch. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sashajust4you's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

An amazing read. The language is beautiful and the characters stole my breath away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder