Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

167 reviews

bookish_panda's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

“Maybe it would be a hundred generations before the sun rose on a life of dignity for their descendants, but the worthwhile run was not the sprint.”

What a masterful story. Heartbreaking and so necessary in these times. It was difficult to read sections of this book knowing how close it is to what has and still is going on in today’s world. As sad as the ending was (I’m still crying) it was perfect and hopeful. 

The author portrayed the toxicity of patriarchy, colonialism and, above all, white feminism/fragility to such a perfect degree. I feel like everyone should read this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Miscarriage and Suicide

maureen_fox's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

thenoboshow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

zhanae_j's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

Promising premise but ultimately the heavy-handed exploration of the themes and flat secondary characters bogs the progression of the book down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Classism

princess_azula's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Deportation

matty_joe319's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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

5.0

It’s such a cliche phrase at this point, but this book truly has it all. It’s a fantasy with a detailed, unique magic system that is easy to understand and will also please the steam-punk and sci-fi fans. It has graphic action sequences that made me forget to breathe, but the gore never feels excessive or exploitative. It has flawed, multifaceted characters who are hilarious and heartbreaking in alternating moments. It has romance that has real substance to it. It has some of the best commentary on social issues I’ve seen in a while from a fantasy novel, but doesn’t feel preachy, one-note, or heavy-handed. It works as a hell of an allegory, but is also just an incredible story in its own right. Truly one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read. It is a brutal read, but the whole experience is so engaging that you are at risk of doing what I just did - reaching the halfway point and then staying up til 4 to finish the rest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War

beonie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

4.0

Blood over Bright Haven had a solid plot, though there were some choices I would’ve done differently—Sciona is meant to think differently, but a few decisions felt rushed or a bit silly. The book was tense, fast-paced, and well-written. While most relationships felt a bit shallow, Sciona and Thomil’s bond was wonderfully developed. The message was quite dramatic and on the nose, but it hit hard—I cried a lot during the final quarter. I really enjoyed the setting and the magical system. It's a good read, but you should be stable when reading and prepared to be crushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation

Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Cannibalism, and Abandonment

offbrandcat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Equal parts enthralling and horrifying. This book was a wild, dark journey, one that will stick with me forever. I'm glad I went in blind. Reading it on my breaks at work, every time I left it I would be thinking about it until I could get back, wanting to unravel more of this story, figure out more of what's going on.

Sciona was a brilliant protagonist for this story. An unreliable narrator, and a horrible person. Her justifications are all ones I've heard and hated before in real life, a view of how people can justify evil and see themselves as still above everyone else. Witnessing those lenses slowly come off as the story advances as she makes a conscious effort to break a horrific cycle and system of corruption was a powerful journey. 

Absolutely a heavy read, but a brilliant one.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Genocide, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

trapdorr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

The parallel commentary of this novel on our own society is poignant. I thought this novel and magic system was incredibly well done. Very happy I took down this rec from tiktok.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, and Classism

kaelaxsuga's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Violence, and Vomit