Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

27 reviews

hailstorm3812's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

This is a tough read, but so worth it. It is both incredibly dark and incredibly hopeful. Kyr's arc is so well done and the side characters are so interesting. It makes so many interesting points. I think it straddles the line of YA and adult in an odd way sometimes, most evidently in the very ending which I have mixed feelings on. Overall I really did love it and highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Rape, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Outing

bookishwondergoth's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful reflective tense fast-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

4.75

Not quite 5 stars but sooooooo close. This book was an absolute ride and I adored every moment. There was a bit of a lull in the middle and I got whiplash a few times with all the changes, but ultimately this was a fantastic examination of cult mentality, facism, radicalisation and deconstruction of dangerously right-wing views. Absolutely brilliant. Will be reading more of Emily Tesh's books for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Gun violence, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood

blacksphinx's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

Minor: Bullying and Abortion

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Plot: 4★
Prose: 4★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 5★/4.5★
Characters: 4.75★
Worldbuilding: 4.5★
Ending: 4★

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Bullying, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol

gondorgirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

horrorandscience's review

adventurous mysterious tense slow-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

I have a few thoughts about this book, but I will start off by saying that I loved the writing in this book. Any issues that I have are not with the writing, but the plot itself. I need to read more of Emily Tesh’s work!

There are a lot of things about Some Desperate Glory that I was excited about:  a space colony with cult vibes, girl friendship, fun family dynamics, and a redemption arc. 

I was not a huge fan of Kyr in this book, and I know that it was purposeful and because of indoctrination, but I couldn’t get myself to look past it. I felt bad for everyone around her, and even though she realized the reality of her situation, I don’t think she got any better. She never really apologized for anything. 

The time traveling, multiverse part of the story was surprising to me, but it took me out of the story when, about 1/3 through, it started all over. And then once again, about 2/3 in. I did like the idea of it, but didn’t really vibe with how it ended up. And queer space opera? No, that’s not quite right. 

I know there’s a few criticisms, but I do recommend this book to my science fiction lovers. Some may love it more than I did, and I always recommend stories like this. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the chance to read this advanced review copy. 

CW for suicide, violence, child abuse, murder, genocide, blood, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, racism, bullying, sexual assault, rape (implied, not on page), suicidal thoughts, and ableism

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense 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

5.0

Thanks to TorDotCom Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - Whew, this book! SOME DESPERATE GLORY has fantastic world building, morally gray characters, "are we the baddies?," a dash of queerness, and a freaking fantastic couple of twists that I will try not to give away here. You need to go in fresh on this one, just trust me.
- Kyr is going to be a hard character for a lot of people (as will several others in this book), and I loved that Tesh just did it. Yeah, she's mean and self-centered and has a limited worldview. Deal with it, alongside Kyr herself dealing with it.
- SOME DESPERATE GLORY is truly the best of what sci-fi can do. It pushes on big questions of morality while also delivering edge of your seat action. I absolutely cannot wait to see what Tesh does next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexual violence