Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

10 reviews

ruby_mae_read's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Death

lucys_library's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Body horror, Death, Blood, Rape, and Torture

lyktestolpe's review against another edition

challenging funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Slavery

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual assault and Rape

goldfishtangerine's review against another edition

funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense 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

4.75

This is the most unique book that I've ever read, but then again, it's my first experience reading a novel in verse. But the whole time, I felt honoured to be reading something so beautiful, so graphic, so charming, so brutally honest, so raw, so well-written. 

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the poetic writing, but once you learn the author's style, it's simply the most lovely thing. Mix that with the brutal content and graphic scenes of the book, and it's truly something so jarring (in a good way).

I absolutely loved watching the main character explore her sexuality and take ownership of it throughout the novel. The sex scenes were so original, too. The author really knows how to play with language.

I recommend this book, especially for first time novel-in-verse readers. It's incredible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Toxic relationship

natalieabigail's review against another edition

challenging funny inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Misogyny

Minor: Slavery and Death

honestlyholly's review against another edition

adventurous sad 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? Yes

4.25

I've never been a fan of poetry; I hated it at school. Perhaps if this book has been on the curriculum, I'd have liked it more! 

This was such an eclectic mix of Roman rule in London and modern sensibilities. You have a pre-teen Nubian girl marrying and old, rich man who locks her away, and then it follows her life on-and-off until she reaches adulthood.

The ending is not what I expected but I understood it. I questioned her choices leading up to this ending, and couldn't help but feel frustrated that things didn't work out differently, but it was apt for the time, I think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, and Infertility

questingnotcoasting's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

This sounded really interesting but I've always been wary of novels in verse because I'm not a poetry person. However I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. The setting of Londinium in AD 211 felt so vivid and I loved Evaristo's inclusion of both Latin and cockney rhyming slang. It's funny and the characters are interesting, even if I didn't feel that attached to them. Thanks to the rhythm of the narration I found it much easier to understand what was happening than I think I would've if I'd read the physical version.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, and Pedophilia

lucymayjackson's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death, Sexual content, and Slavery

hardcoverhearts's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

This book takes place in London when Romans occupied it and it was called Londinium. There is a brutal and horrific coliseum scene of death for sport in all sorts of forms. It’s powerful and effective in how it impacts the narrator. But rough to read.