Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

7 reviews

m_petranoff's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A phenomenal futuristic dystopian science-fiction novel that looks at how someone can be a part of, perpetuate, and glorify fascism, and how one can disentangle oneself from it. With breakneck pacing and concise, clear character development, this book gives you an unlikable protagonist who is shocked to discover how unlikable she is and does something about it. Without any spoilers, it's an incredibly well-built world that tells a compelling story, then, about halfway through, changes all the rules. My only complaint was that I wanted more.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Genocide, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

The book comes with a content warning at the beginning that is accurate and clearly written by the author.

black_cat_iiix's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

ceruleanseas's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

exaal's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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

4.0

"Some Desperate Glory" is an exciting tale with many twists and turns. Taking a page out of Ender's Game, this book explores the morality behind warfare, the conscription of child soldiers, xenophobia, and the fate of the human race. With LGBTQ+ undertones, the main character, Kyr, goes through drastic changes in character in this story that spans time and space.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and War

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Pregnancy

katebird's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Homophobia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape

literaryintersections's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

My brain ➡️ “idk what tf is going on but I LOVE IT”

Y’all get this book. It’s queer. It’s a SPACE OPERA. It’s violent. Some of the best sci fi I’ve read recently. What are you waiting for????

A few things - I think this book does an amazing job of worldbuilding. You are immediately dropped into an Earth type world but have no clue what is going on. And then you are just along for the ride as Tesh slowly feeds you bit after bit about what happened to Earth, who the aliens are, who the villains are. The twists and turns took me by complete surprise. I can't say more without spoiling but that first shift in the story I literally just put the book down and stared into space. 

Now I loved Kyr. She is truly a horrible character in the beginning because she is brainwashed. BUT, as she learns, as she explores other people and experiences, as she starts to break away from being a cold robot, she becomes so much more. And she gets challenged in her shitty ways. I think Tesh did a great job of giving us a rough character who we ultimately know is terrible and has other characters tell her that she is terrible. It's not just shitty for the sake of shitty. And I loved Cleo. She was prob my favorite character in the entire book besides Yiso. 

There's been a lot of talk about the whole hair part at the end. As a Black person, it didn't bother me. Does it make sense? No. But it didn't take away from the story for me. 

It is also important to note that this is sometimes billed as a "sapphic space opera" and imo that is not correct. Queer? 100%. Sapphic? Not 100% clear. There is an inkling of sapphic romance. There is very much queer relationships. But it is not a romance book. Nor does it even have strong romantic elements. 

Overall I fucking loved this. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence

Minor: Sexual harassment

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★

---

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