Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

36 reviews

armandbaguette's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying and Death

Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt

zypeee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.75

I don’t even know what or how to write this review. A well written very compelling story, but a terribly horrific subject matter. It’s hard to like something so terrible. Read with caution. See trigger warnings. 

A very driven young lady, rejects the crushing male dominance of her society to prove herself amongst the top magic wielders. Only to find out that the magic she has loved above all else comes with a deadly cost. Good does not always win. Books don’t always have happy endings. Some are just sad tales of what could easily become our realities, and in someways were and still are. 

Phew. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

coltonchase's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

unthank'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

4.5

Good 

• Despite the slow start it began to pick up in the second half. The climax and ending of the book was a total page-turner. 
• It presented the brutality of living in a racist and sexist world without feeling like this brutality was included for the sake of being voyeuristically grimdark.
• The story really hit the sweet spot of despair and hope. 
• The magic system of the world is interesting and well thought out. 
• The heroine was given space to be flawed and complex. She was a really good example of how a progressive person living in a racist society will make racist assumptions. The changes in her belief system and world perspective over the course of the novel felt well earned. 
• I enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads. 
• The story was an interesting examination of intersectionality. 

Bad

• Occasionally the dialog felt a little bit too on the nose regarding the themes of the story. 
• The first half of the book was slow.

YMMV

• The book contains an in-depth exploration of themes that some people might find difficult. While I felt like it struck the right balance between despair and hope, it's ultimately not a happy story. 
• The opening scene included one of my biggest first-chapter pet peeves. I appreciate this scene a lot more having read the entire story and seeing where the author ended up going with it, but it definitely almost put me off the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Abandonment

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

The book has themes of genocide and also has a section of the book with the setting in an ongoing riot status. There is a scene that’s a sexual assault. Complicity in institutional segregation and genocide is the major theme of the book.

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

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

bkwrm1317's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

This is truly a really solid read. I love the reflections on the way we treat others from the lens of a fantasy world, as well as the introduction of programming language as a form of writing magic (I see the borrows from Python especially!!). 

Scions is a privileged young woman trying to make a name for herself in a deeply misogynist magical culture, and the things she will learn about the city’s founding, and how it intersects in devastating ways with other cultures (lower caste folks in the city) is devastating. 

Horrifying, page turning, and hopeful, I definitely recommend and look forward to reading more by ML Wang. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Sexual violence

kamrynkoble's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.25

Wow. What a brilliant, unique, disturbing book. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a long time.

Don’t let anyone sell you this as “romantasy.” It’s not. But if you like unique magic systems, techy magic (think magical typewriter), and pondering major ethical dilemmas, this is a great fit. 

I wasn’t connected to the characters enough to give it a full five stars. But this is an incredible book and I’m so glad I read it, thanks to Book Huddle!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death

jdamae11's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful 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

For me, what this book accomplished is hard to put into words! M.L. Wang is an incredible storyteller. Here, she gives us a story with complicated, fully realized characters and an immersive world and magic system. And that’s not even covering the beating heart of this book and the best part about it. The themes are THEMING. She said I’m gonna give you some of things to think about hunny! The destructive, continuous, and consuming nature of colonialism. The impossible and oppressive conditions for people under capitalism. And for everyone, especially women, under patriarchy. The intertwined nature of church and state and the power of organized religion to dictate social life. And how all of this has rendered a society so complacent as to willingly accept not only the foundation of their world built on genocide, but to turn their heads at the continued slaughter of innocent lives so long as it does not inconvenience them. Sounds familiar. I feel like I’m not even doing justice to this tbh. Wang manages to achieve all of this without having to spell it out plainly. She shows the journey of cognitive dissonance and mental deconstruction that must take place for one of our main characters, and the indescribably painful path to justice for our other main character. 

Minor spoilers: 
This book is not feel-good at all. What I appreciated about the ending was that it felt right, it was the only way things could even begin to be set on a path to restoration for the Native people—the Kwen—of this world. Sciona frustrated me A LOT, but my god was she the most realistic depiction of someone privileged having to reevaluate and change everything. I also felt like, without it being plainly stated, she was a great depiction of a woman with neurodivergence, I saw a lot of myself in her thinking patterns, social misunderstandings, and fixations. I love Thomil, someone who deserved to be more than enraged at everything that has happened to him and his people, yet remains curious and hopeful in that rage. And the power of these two together reminding us of the power of community to create change, no matter how ugly it is to get there. I am OBSESSED with this book idk what to even read next. This book has one of the strongest openings I have ever read and Wang pulls off a major revelation / twist about halfway through that is less shocking than it is a confirmation of your worst fears, which I thought was just so great. 

Major candidate for my fave book this year I am GAGGING

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual violence and Vomit