Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

272 reviews

vivelarevolution's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is incredibly dark and heavy; I wouldn't advise reading it without first checking out the trigger warnings. That aside, Butler is an incredible writer with a transportive voice and engaging writing style. Everything that happens in this book feels almost real; she manages to make a history that is often taught in a remote and distant way feel visceral and present. Much of the message of the book seems to be a direct response to people who talk about enslaved people with apathy, pity, or derision. Butler examines the ways in which white people at the time talked themselves out of seeing Black peoples' humanity, and the complex and fucked up relationships that existed between Black and white people as a result.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Suicide, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Murder, Medical trauma, Rape, Slavery, Pregnancy, Racism, and Suicide attempt

anxiousshorebird's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

Speculative historical fiction perfected. This was a gripping read and a sobering window into the shameful past of the U.S. It was also inspirational and heart warming. I think this should be required reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Self harm, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Racism, Violence, Racial slurs, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence

Minor: Rape

jojoana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, and Rape

st_ella_r's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Minor: Blood, Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Vomit

leadabird's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexism, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Rape

redheadorganist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, Cursing, Racism, Violence, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Slavery, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Blood, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual violence, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury

tommeyer3's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

This one took a while to grow on me, but it really did. I loved the plot device, found the story riveting (and disturbing) and thought the characters were well-developed, but the writing style was a little over-prescriptive at times to me. But over time it wore me down and ultimately I liked it a lot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

bblob's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence

elliotyork's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Self harm and Sexism

Minor: Animal cruelty

heathernependa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

“Like all good works of fiction, it lies like the truth.”

This made my skin crawl. I think it should be required reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Suicide