Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry

14 reviews

apollo0325's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

With every action they make to take away your rights, they adopt  an air of phony shame, as if they actually cared about the consequences of their beliefs.

This book was absolutely heart-wrenching, and the fact it was/is the reality of queer kids is even worse. Despite the best efforts, people still think queers are an illness, something that can be ‘cured’ when this is who we are. So many drape their homophobia with religion too.

This book is H E A V Y and even so, it’s an understatement. It’s important but difficult and necessary to have queer books centered on subject matter like this. Every queer story doesn’t end in a happily ever after.

Framing it within Greek mythology adds another layer of interest and way to connect to Raya’s journey. It also felt like a coping mechanism for Raya which is a common trend among queers (shout out to my PJO queers, ayyy).

My only critique of this book is the lack of understanding of time passing. It feels like SO MUCH has happened but then Raya mentions being dropped off four days ago? It felt a bit unclear. Then again, this may have been an intentional choice by the author to show even Raya has no concept of time and self in the latter half of the book.

Lastly, I implore anyone wanting to read this book to PLEASE LOOK AT TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book does not fuck around. For real.

“You know, the thing about family is that you can choose it. And I choose you.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Biphobia, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Torture, Violence, Hate crime, Dysphoria, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Note for sexual harassment tag: the kids forced to go to the conversion camp are also forced to watch content of boys kissing boys or girls kissing girls or near sexual experiences between the same sexes. Nothing is explicitly detailed but it is mentioned. I didn’t know which tag to choose so I chose that one.

ellefrost64's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

I'm sure this is a good book somewhere. I split it into half because it did get too heavy for one sitting. It's not really anything similar to Orpheus and Eurydice.

Char is fucking awful I don't care she has enough trauma to kill a horse (ha), that's not an excuse to turn around and administer electro shock treatment. Like if anyone deserves to get their ass beaten it's her and hyde, but especially her. Also agree with another reviewer like why did the one singular trans character have to have the suicide attempt in graphic detail? I'm not sure. I know this book is true to life in places like this but goddamn it is just one onslaught of trauma after another and it's exhausting. And the wings try to be moments of lightness among it all but it didn't work for me.

. I hope this book helps someone, but it just made me exhausted and mad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Deadnaming

pick a trigger warning and assume it's included here, including electroshock therapy, conversion camps,

maisiemoo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

3.25

This was the heaviest book I’ve ever read and I think it’s going to take a while to leave me.

This book succeeds in portraying the horrifying reality of conversion therapy and made me feel so appreciative of the support network I’ve had since coming out, because not everyone is that fortunate.

I really thought that there would be more parallels to mythology in terms of the plot. I felt like the metaphors could have been taken further, but that’s just my personal opinion.

At some points I found Raya’s recollection of her childhood quite repetitive. I felt like, although she was telling different stories, they all ended with the same point about her grandmother not wanting her and her feeling inadequate. Personally, I found these snippets of her past didn’t really add much to the narrative.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style of the author, but I found the overall plot very hard-hitting. It was a difficult read, and I’d urge people to take care when reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Abandonment, Biphobia, Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Outing, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence

biggreensnek's review

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, and Outing

Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Blood, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Deadnaming, Vomit, and Self harm

leah_dawn's review

challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Hate crime, Outing, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Lesbophobia

genevieve_eggleston's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

This was an extremely intriguing novel. It definitely delves into sensitive subject matter and deals with severe homophobia, so approach it with caution if that’s triggering for you, but it’s also eye opening and inspirational.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Torture, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Outing, Physical abuse, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, and Homophobia

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Violence, Deadnaming, Medical content, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Hate crime, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Cursing, and Sexism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

itsbumley's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Hate crime, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse

emcp's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.5

I’m always sad to give negative reviews to queer love stories, but I really struggled to get through this very short book. The characters all feel one-dimensional; Raya and Sarah’s relationship has no depth. It’s a lot of telling and very little showing — even the link to the myth of Orpheus was tenuous and had to be explained repeatedly throughout the story. Take these content warnings seriously, because 90% of this book is just pain and torture, and the ending can only barely be described as “happy.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Self harm, Hate crime, Outing, and Religious bigotry

starship_olympus's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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? It's complicated

1.0

I just grabbed this from the LGBTQ+ section at my library because if there's anything to do with Orpheus and Eurydice in any form of media I'm there for it. 

But the writing style wasn't really for me, and I wasn't invested in the story. I almost DNF but I had a few hours free so I kinda just skimmed the book stopping to read every few pages. 
I can definitely see why this book could be loved by some, if it had been my cup of tea I would've been all over the prose, the characters, their differences and their love. I did want a 'happy' ending (as happy as an ending of this book could be)

and I am glad we got it, with the girls and some kids escaping the camp, and the camp (most likely?) being brought down

but the journey there wasn't for me. 

I know Orpheus is a tragedy, and there was tragedy here. It's not a book for the faint of heart, or an easy read. Even just skimming it I had an emotional reaction to what was going on. I think it could be a wonderful and visceral and beautiful novella. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Outing, Self harm, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Bullying

Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent

eve_ross_artist's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I really liked the plot concept. It was great! I would have just liked to see a little more analogies to greek mythology then there had been. It was a phenomenal story! I have to admit even with the warnings of intense subject matter (ie. conversion therapy, etc) I did find the whole ending and duration of Raya and Sarah’s stay at the camp a bit morbid and extremely sad. I really felt awful for what these characters were going through and I think that’s why I particularly enjoyed this story. I do not recommend the book to anyone who doesn’t think they can possibly deal with the mature themes that are present. I really loved it. Thank you Brynne Rebele-Henry for this great book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Torture, Lesbophobia, and Hate crime

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Outing

Minor: Transphobia