Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

27 reviews

anniereads221's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury

lisafrancine's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

betweentheshelves's review

dark emotional tense slow-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

As the author mentions in the note at the end of the book, there are very few historical fiction books with Jewish characters that aren't about the Holocaust. This book is incredibly atmospheric and unapologetically Jewish, as the main character, Alter, speaks little English and uses a lot of Jewish terms and mythology. I was fascinated by all of it, knowing very little about Jewish mythology, and the glossary in the back was incredibly helpful. 

I will say, the story itself is overall on the slower side, which allows Polydoros to build the suspense. Just when you think you have the mystery figured out, something else happens to turn it on its head. You can feel the gothic fantasy vibes throughout, and overall, these elements are well incorporated throughout.

The only thing that wasn't super believable for me was the romance itself, which might relate back to the historical period it's written in. For me, I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between Alter and his main love interest, and I think I wanted a bit more. Again, this is probably historically accurate, but I wasn't as invested in the romance as I wanted to be.

Overall, fans of gothic historical fantasy with thriller vibes will definitely enjoy this book. A great addition to YA Lit!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, and Rape

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicide

rey_therese07's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

ofbooksandechos's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

I think I would have enjoyed this more if I read it instead of listen to the audiobook. I don't know, the narrator's voice acting choices didn't sit well with me most times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

xoodlebooks's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Genocide, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, and Medical content

melaniereadsbooks's review

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for an arc of this book.

When Alter's roommate ends up dead during the World's Fair in 1893 Chicago, Alter knows that it wasn't the accident the police are claiming it was. A string of deaths and disappearances of young Jewish boys are cropping up over the city. To make matters worse, ever since his friend's death, Alter has been experiencing hallucinations and black outs that leave all-too-real marks on his body. He is determined to find out what really happened and put his friend's spirit to rest.

Wow, this book was mysterious and tense throughout! It took me a little ways to get into it, but once I did I was completely addicted! Alter is such a sympathetic character and I loved following his point of view as he discovered what was really going on in the City. I also....I am in love with Frankie. I'm sorry, but he is perfect. He is like.... a slightly-less-traumatized Kaz Brekker but also gay. Yup. I'm in love.

The prose in this book was beautiful and I truly loved it!

Pub Date: Oct 5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Genocide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent