Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

6 reviews

matmatmatty's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This was a lovely story - as someone who studied Latin for a while and is Black, it is really nice to hear about people like me living in Roman Britain (because we've been here since then!)

This story is set in Roman Britain, but is not completely accurate - there are references to the modern day but I think it works well to put things in perspective for a modern audience (for example, some gladiators are referred to with the names of famous wrestlers, to compare how they were treated - being extremely famous for doing acts of violence). If you're looking for a truly historically accurate tale, maybe don't pick this one up.

A surprisingly emotional end -

I wish there had been a little more time spent on Zuleika's grief, but I really liked the last few chapters - it added to the tragedy of the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Blood

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

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

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, Body horror, Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood

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

Minor: Toxic relationship

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: Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, and Blood

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.