Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

138 reviews

atamano's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence and Gaslighting

cardanrry's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Trafficking

wlreed312's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Confinement and Gore

maya_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Misogyny and Murder

Minor: Trafficking

rambles's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Violence

Moderate: Vomit and Trafficking

sunnydale's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

This book succeeds as a gothic allegory exploring the ways both targeted abuse and impersonal violence are used to maintain an oppressive culture. If it were marketed primarily as an introspective novel about a woman's journey to free herself and her children from abuse, people might not be so disappointed that the SFF elements aren't at the forefront. I don't think the physiology and culture of the otherworldly race are underdeveloped, but they aren't emphasized. 

I wasn't disappointed by the focus on Devon's personal arc. I was, however, disappointed that the crucial parts of that arc happened almost entirely in the past. The present-day chapters feel like they're only there to build tension as you wait to figure out what led up to them—they don't carry the narrative weight of half the book, despite getting half the book's "screen time." Characters like Hester, Cai, and Killock are intriguing, and I wish they'd been given more depth. 

Overall, I found the worldbuilding compelling, and I'd be interested in revisiting the world to learn more about mind eaters in particular. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Slavery, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Physical abuse specifics:

Matley chokes Devon until she passes out, and it takes her a long time to recover. This happens immediately after she gives birth to Cai. She is also pinned down when Matley and his guards arrive to take Cai away.

There is no explicit sexual content or description of sexual assault, although Devon's relations with her husbands are nonconsensual. A lot of discussion of Devon's children being taken away from her. Her children are also threatened with violence.

ivleafclover's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I dunno, I dug about the first half and then it slowed waaaaay down and I lost interest. I was interested enough to keep slogging through to see how it ended (and the end is satisfyingly exciting), but it’s destined for the donation pile. Not one I’ll be tempted to re-read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, and Gaslighting

booksthatburn's review against another edition

I dislike the main character and am bothered by a bunch of little things about the worldbuilding.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, and Alcohol

rainbowrachel's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Trafficking, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Pregnancy

bitteralbatross's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Stalking