Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

40 reviews

theladydoor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Body horror

aprilbethp's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

fairchildellie's review

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.25

The author needs to find another word for penis than yard. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

lizbethandthelifeinbetween's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

2.0

This is not the book it was marketed as. I can't even say it's YA.

The writing is so good. I'm going yo get that out of the way. But everything else... I had to put this down multiple times a comb through reviews to make sure I wasn't the only one baffled by this. It has some.scenes that could have been in Game of Thrones, making the tone very inconsistent when bu all other accounts this feels like a YA book. 

I understand what the author was trying to do: make a statement on abuse cycles, and how they're perpetrated. That part was OK. It's the ending that gets me. I don't understand it. It was so weird and unnecessary. Also, I woild have liked more build-up to Ama freeing herself. It all happened so fast, especially when the author took over 10% of the book building up to lilling the dragon (and not telling us HOW u til the very end, and its so stupid. I understand Ama's relationship to the dragon and I do like it, but the other part with Emory was just a big NO). And when we do find out what happens it's so unsatisfactory. So much is said yet nothing happens. I think the ideas were there but it was poorly executed, and when dealing with this sort of subject matter you can't mess it up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny

martamae77's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault

yellow_ylugbug's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Suicide

lisashelves's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Blood, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

taliatalksbooks's review

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

0.25

 Damsel by Elana K. Arnold was unsettling and hard to read. It’s language was formal, uninteresting, and never showed much action, opting instead to tell the reader about some pretty horrific things. All of the characters are flat, and none of them do anything interesting during their time in the castle or journeying to it. While I don’t mind books with controversial topics, this book didn’t have many, if any, redeeming qualities to make up for this barrage of explicit and uncomfortable content…other than a cover that draws you in. This is a mislabeled YA, so I want to specify it is 100% adult fantasy content, but if you’re looking for an enjoyable read, keep searching. This book isn’t creating a thought provoking discomfort, it’s just creating a situation the reader is so disgusted by they don’t want to finish the read. I can count on a single hand the books I have not finished in my life, and I can honestly say, this just about made that list. I’m not sure who the intended audience was for this, but if you are looking for a dark twisted fantasy that will have you questioning your sanity for subjecting yourself to the boredom and disgusting antics of Emory then I guess look no further? I really wouldn’t recommend this to anyone under the circumstances, but if you want to see the monstrosity for yourself, I say go for it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Sexism

mattiedancer's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Writing: 5⭐️/5 

The writing is strong throughout the book. A few moments that lacked ease and clarity were outshone by the brilliance expertly demonstrated throughout the rest of the novel. The poetic nature of the work fit nicely within its prose format. Arnold also demonstrates great control over the voice throughout the story. Tremendously done. 

Characters: 5⭐️/5

The characters were both hyperbolic and realistic in the best balance between the two. Arnold does a tremendous job creating motivated characters whose stories and origins. This is most fantastically demonstrated with the Prince/King, whose perspective we begin with, whose story we understand, whose side we are almost on until the story slowly unfolds in front of us.

Plot: 5⭐️/5 

The plot is fantastically paced and thoroughly enjoyable to read. I personally love the focus on a deep and unforgiving feminine rage that is both necessary and welcomed. So much of this story is exactly what I wanted to read, while also being precisely what I needed to read. 

Post-Reading Rating:  5⭐️/5

I will be recommending this to so many people.

Who Should Read This? 

• Women looking for a feminist fairy tale
• Those who love fairy tale reconstructions
• Those who want all that plus dragons and castles

 

Final Rating: 5⭐️/5

CW: Blood, injury, suicide, sexual assault, sexual content, rape, toxic relationships, misogyny, sexism, emotional abuse, violence, domestic abuse, physical abuse, gaslighting, animal cruelty, animal death, death, death of parent, eating disorder, classism, pregnancy, kidnapping

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Classism, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Self harm, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Kidnapping

kblevs's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Murder, Blood, Violence, Death, Animal death, Gore, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Animal cruelty