Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

135 reviews

elly29's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.0

Well, this was a YA novel. The setting was misogynistic, and it was hard reading this after reading "The Underground Girls of Kabul" and knowing the realities and cruelties of such strictly patriarchal societies. Forna used it to make a point and as something for her protagonist to struggle against, but wow. Also, coming from a religious culture that talks about purity in black and white terms and then to read about Deka's obsession with purity was almost triggering -- could be very, very triggering for someone who has struggled with purity and self-worth in the past. (I got frustrated with the common trope of, "religion is either false or twists society to serve those in power" because it lacked nuance. (Looking at you, Jim Butcher, and your Knight Michael Carpenter as a good example of the faithful.) The first third was probably the worst and most unnuanced part. Most of the twists you could spot a mile off, but a few of them did catch me by surprise. Overall, it was fine. The most interesting part was the mythology and creatures. Deka was definitely a wunderkindt Chosen One.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, War, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent

antjeliest's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and War

macarxna_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Awesome book! I have to admit that at first it did not engage me as much as I expected, but actually the story is very interesting since the beginning and from the middle of the book ahead it’s just wonderful. The way Narmina shows patriarchy in this fantasy world just as terrible and awful as it is nowadays is incredible. How she can describe the pain women suffer, from all ethnicities and places and how those who don’t belong to the binarism suffer it’s great. I’m really looking forward to the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

tine9625's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, War, Sexual violence, and Violence

thecat's review

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Racism and Sexual violence

amcghig's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Child death, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, War, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

_savannahreads_'s review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and War

ananko's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and War

Moderate: Rape, Grief, Kidnapping, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

allyjshand's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? No

4.25

The young adult novel I needed growing up. Forna creates a fantasy world which is, in some ways, not too different from our own. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Deka, we explore a patriarchy which abuses and controls women, scared of their powers. Forna also ties in issues such as  racism, homophobia and xenophobia within this incredible debut novel. Thus, whilst it is darker than I expected for a YA novel, this only makes The Gilded Ones a more powerful read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

catphilli's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

What a little gem of a book! I didn’t know anything about this book before buying it based on its gorgeous cover design 😂 Such a fantastic story that I think all young women should read - very hunger games esque just more whimsical. Very high praise coming from a hunger games stan. The commentary this book makes on society, sexism, racism and abuse is so powerful and easy to devour. It’s also a beautiful emotional story and is incredibly written throughout. Definitely a great one for me to dip my toe back into YA fiction!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, Gore, Death, Child abuse, and Blood