Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

4 reviews

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

emotional reflective

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Transphobia, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

chaos_fairy's review against another edition

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? No

4.0

Set in Roman Britain, told in blank verse with a modern twist, about a young Black girl married off by to a middle-aged Roman; a refreshing  read in a world of white-washed historical fiction, we get to see a more demographically accurate Londinium 211 AD — a fledgling commercial centre in the northern reaches of an empire ruled by the Libyan-born Septimius Severus, populated by not only native Bretons but also migrants from across the Roman Empire and beyond, including the main character’s Sudanese parents. 

Evaristo infuses the narrative with modern language, a device I love in historical fiction when done well. Rather than using formal, ornate language common in historical fiction, Evaristo uses, modern slang, idioms and innuendos, differing speech patterns for peasants and merchants, soldiers and senators — far from what some might call historical inaccuracy (what would be accurate about Roman Britain speaking anything close to 20th century English, anyway?), the contemporary storytelling allows a more authentic relationship between the reader and the characters. 

The writing is well-paced and entertaining, and both witty and insightful. It deals with difficult topics — Zuleika is married and experiences sex as a girl, before she can learn to understand desire. But it also paints a world where pleasure, joy and love are always possible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation

lucys_library's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

schorlett's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and War