Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

8 reviews

nmterpening's review against another edition

adventurous challenging fast-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Slavery and Toxic friendship

Minor: Colonisation

annabel_winter's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Transphobia

zozierose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

 After reading Manifesto I wanted to pick up one of Evaristo’s two books that I hadn’t read. Since one of them isn’t her best work (her opinion not mine) I opted for The Emperor’s Babe. Set in Londinium in 211AD,It’s the story of a young Sudanese woman who married to a much older man, and goes on to have an affair with the visiting Emperor. It was a joyous delight to read. It’s a novel in verse - and the poetry really shines. I especially loved the combination of Latin and Cockney rhyming slang. Talk about a unique pairing yet it really highlighted Zuleika’s wit and verve. She was an unabashed and irrepressible character who really leapt off the page. Although ostensibly set 1800 years ago it feels fresh and relevant today. Power imbalances due to gender, wealth and race sadly did not decline with the Roman Empire. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Confinement

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

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: Rape and Sexual assault

katiersmart's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault

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, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Vomit

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.