Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

9 reviews

indeedithappens's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Slavery

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Bullying, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

meg_thebrave's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

This is a book I’m sitting on and thinking about for a long, long while. As soon as I thought I’d figured out which character to root for, something would shift and I’d question that character’s actions. A sometimes violent, complex, and really well done story.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Slavery, Violence, Addiction, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore and Homophobia

electricshe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I ripped through this story. 

I didn’t find the characters likeable—as in, I wouldn’t want to be friends with any of them—but I did find them interesting, varied, with clear motivation. I don’t think they developed much through the story (with the exception of Paladin, maaaaaybe) so that felt a bit lacking. I also thought that things fell in line very neatly for Eliasz and Paladin. They seemed to find just who/what they needed on the first try in every location they visited, which I thought pushed “fast-paced” into “somewhat unbelievable” territory. 

Despite that, I really liked the story. I was interested in what it had to say about ownership, capitalism, AI, labour. It doesn’t try to solve this whole future world’s problems—or even wholly lay them out—which feels frustrating, but is simply not within the scope of the plot. I don’t think it shouldn’t examine them just because it can’t wrap them up neatly in a bow.

I liked the flashbacks to Jack’s younger years and how it fleshed out what was happening in the present. Even as I didn’t like the characters, I appreciated the glimpses we got of how they came to be who they were. I felt such intense dislike for Eliasz as the story progressed, but relished in their half of the story as we got to see his influence on Paladin. It’s all sort of messed up, and their ‘romance’ is meant to be uncomfortable. It reads like first love between teens—even in the dialogue—and it really makes me think of what will happen to them as Paladin comes into its autonomy. 

Anyway, I could go on. I don’t think it’s perfect, but I did really enjoy it and think it leaves lots to think about. Worth the read, for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Child abuse

quihi's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Addiction, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, and Slavery

Moderate: Homophobia

blotchedspots's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Body horror

Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Adult/minor relationship

bookishplantmom's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.5

I’ve been meaning to read this for the longest time. I’m quite glad I finally got around to it. This was an engaging read with some compelling comments on gender, sexuality, capitalism and freedom. I really liked how nuanced the author managed to make all of these themes. I also appreciated seeing multiple perspectives on the same scene or situations. It took me a minute to get into the story but by the 20-25% mark I was into it. Overall a solid read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Slavery

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Homophobia, and Slavery

Minor: Rape

m_petranoff's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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? No

3.75

While the dystopian world building is grounded and level, I was disappointed by some of the (lack of) character development. Where the narrative does what good speculative fiction should do--exploring current trends played out to their potentially dystopian outcomes--it doesn't always hit the mark with treating each of its subjects fully. If you're only here for the plot, you'll have a good time (with lots of blood and gore), but if you're here for the thoughtful look into a potential future and characters who grapple with that future, look elsewhere.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

charlieleelee's review

adventurous dark tense fast-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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Police brutality, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Drug use, Murder, and Trafficking