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Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
39 reviews
hannahadamson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I thought this book was okay, I don’t really have any strong feelings towards it
I thought the world was interesting enough and i did like most of the main characters, but I didn’t find myself getting invested in the story and there were a few things that I thought were quite under developed. If it wasn’t for the book club, i’m not sure if i would have finished this or not
I did quite enjoy ‘part one’ of the book, but parts two and three fell a little flat for me and I just found myself wanting more from it.
However, I did really like Evelyn & Flora’s ending and I thought the character of ‘the sea’ was really interesting.
We will be discussing this book in more depth in the Fiction Faeries Instagram Live. This live will be in the first week of September (date TBD)
I thought the world was interesting enough and i did like most of the main characters, but I didn’t find myself getting invested in the story and there were a few things that I thought were quite under developed. If it wasn’t for the book club, i’m not sure if i would have finished this or not
I did quite enjoy ‘part one’ of the book, but parts two and three fell a little flat for me and I just found myself wanting more from it.
However, I did really like Evelyn & Flora’s ending and I thought the character of ‘the sea’ was really interesting.
We will be discussing this book in more depth in the Fiction Faeries Instagram Live. This live will be in the first week of September (date TBD)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Slavery, Addiction, Sexual violence, and Rape
fruitea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
a lot darker/heavier than i expected but overall a pretty good story yes i am biased because i like pirates
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
alouette's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
okay, so this was gorgeous, huh? absolutely breathtaking. i loved the simple things, like the relatively short chapter lengths and the representation and the magic system being loose, undefined and dreamy. and then i loved the epic, more complex things like the love and the gender feels and the pirating and the balance of darkness and softness and moral ambiguity. and of course, that ending (holy sh*t, that ending!!!)
the characters felt like i met them, the plot felt like i was living it, the intensity of emotion felt like a tidal wave wrought by the Sea herself. seriously, i'm obsessed with the beauty of how the world can bring two souls together and also tear them apart, but how broken hearts are not a destiny and love finds its ways. and then the themes of colonization and imperialism and storytelling and what it's like to live when you're not free?
can't say it enough, this book is spectacular.
the characters felt like i met them, the plot felt like i was living it, the intensity of emotion felt like a tidal wave wrought by the Sea herself. seriously, i'm obsessed with the beauty of how the world can bring two souls together and also tear them apart, but how broken hearts are not a destiny and love finds its ways. and then the themes of colonization and imperialism and storytelling and what it's like to live when you're not free?
can't say it enough, this book is spectacular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide and Vomit
jacquelynjoan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was a fun, quick read that kept me turning the pages. Despite the cartoonish cover art, it's definitely not a kid's book. I will put some content warnings below, but it doesn't dwell on the gory details, more states some and alludes to others. Some of the character's are morally gray, especially in the beginning, but some of it is sort of about finding your conscience and forgiving yourself but still taking responsibility. It's actually a lot about imperialism and class. Accurate messages about our world from this fictional world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Violence, Murder, Sexual violence, and Torture
backupandround's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Implied sexual assault/intent of sexual assault, not confirmed or described.lighterthaneyre's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don't know who this book is for...
So. I'll say good stuff up front because the less good stuff isn't bad but it's kinda baffling to me.
The style is really engaging- a smooth, easy read. The sapphic romance is sweet, if a bit quick and with the heightened emotions of YA. There's precious few descriptions of physical affection, which is striking considering some later stuff.If you're willing to describe torture but not two ladies making out after a difficult speration, idk what to tell you. It's a Choice.
The way the book handles witches as predominantly story tellers and truth seers is excellent. There's a good level of power, mystery and malice in it, I like it a lot.
The book knows Imperialism is bad, and even though it's kinda not touched on a lot as a main theme, I think it's handled well.You see that especially in the way the story handles Rake (who survived the brutal colonization efforts and hates imperials with a passion) and Genevieve (younger, who only knows the forced order imposed by Imperials, alongside their propaganda for Imperial Superiority), representing different generations under imperial rule, I think that's well done. And Flora's childhood experiences starving in the capital, it ties the themes in well.
I think the book gets the tones of pirates right - romantic imagery, gross ships, savage violence all blended together - but not necessarily the content of piracy right.
The other thread running through this book is the action heavy plot, and while I think it's interesting and engaging, it clashes HEAVILY with the tone the book sets up. It's aggressively violent, and while it's not the most detailed descriptions, it's still very jarring content. I'm not necessarily opposed to violent content but it's very very out of place here.
The opening scene is a ritual initiation murder, and later there is a detailed description of being waterboarded. It's heavily implied multiple times that a crew member raped the main character's brother. The main pirate crew never commits piracy, but are slavers kidnapping civilians.
I would say it goes beyond normal YA's shorthand of gross men "leering" at the protagonist or the slap across the face as a punctuation of violence.
Those things together, I'm not sure who this is for. Its too brutal to be true YA (imo) and too immature to be for adults.
So. I'll say good stuff up front because the less good stuff isn't bad but it's kinda baffling to me.
The style is really engaging- a smooth, easy read. The sapphic romance is sweet, if a bit quick and with the heightened emotions of YA. There's precious few descriptions of physical affection, which is striking considering some later stuff.
The way the book handles witches as predominantly story tellers and truth seers is excellent. There's a good level of power, mystery and malice in it, I like it a lot.
The book knows Imperialism is bad, and even though it's kinda not touched on a lot as a main theme, I think it's handled well.
I think the book gets the tones of pirates right - romantic imagery, gross ships, savage violence all blended together - but not necessarily the content of piracy right.
The other thread running through this book is the action heavy plot, and while I think it's interesting and engaging, it clashes HEAVILY with the tone the book sets up. It's aggressively violent, and while it's not the most detailed descriptions, it's still very jarring content. I'm not necessarily opposed to violent content but it's very very out of place here.
I would say it goes beyond normal YA's shorthand of gross men "leering" at the protagonist or the slap across the face as a punctuation of violence.
Those things together, I'm not sure who this is for. Its too brutal to be true YA (imo) and too immature to be for adults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual violence
The "pirate" ship is just a slavers ship. They do no piracy. So there's that.kelly_chan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Slavery, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Death, Torture, and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape, Drug abuse, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia and Forced institutionalization
gaymee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death, Grief, and Sexual violence
morchels's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's truly a beautiful book, it has such a specific sound. I loved it. I think it was complex and wonderful story. I think most people should read it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
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