Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

28 reviews

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

If I had read this book as a teenager, I would have been obsessed with it.  There are monsters straight out of fairy tales and myths, classic Old Hollywood stories, love stories, different kinds of magic.... Unfortunately, as an adult, it felt a bit lacking for me, even though I did enjoy it.  This is supposedly a few different novella ideas brought together, and that makes sense to me.  There is a lot going on here.  In spite of that, I did want a bit MORE, more explanations, more world building, more stakes to this world.  The magic systems are vague and just mentioned without deeper explanations, and people can become immortal by becoming actual stars in the sky, but they are still alive?  I get the metaphor about immortality and fame, but my literal brain wants to know how that WORKS.  :) The main character basically just gets whatever she wants and doesn't grow much.  There is great LGBTQ rep, although the characters sadly have to keep who they are quiet.  The main character is a child of Chinese immigrants, and has to deal with racism, as well, and she fights back against being the stereotypical roles.  She is called a monster, I guess because of her drive and cold-nature in going after what she wants.  I was kind of hoping she would become a true monster and maybe strike some blows against the patriarchy.  I would not call this a horror by any stretch of the imagination, more like a beautiful but unsettling dream.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Outing, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Cultural appropriation, Rape, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Outing, and Xenophobia

lizzym126's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Grief, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Blood, Racism, and Sexual content

gardens_and_dragons's review

adventurous dark 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

4.0

This book was very creative and unique, as well as well written. It takes on a lot of important subjects like racism and lgbtq rights while being fantastical and mysterious. The world building in folklore that was created. Here was really intriguing. Love a good Old Hollywood story, and, adding in the magical elements just made it shine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Sexism

Minor: Homophobia and Kidnapping

caitlinemccann's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Racism, Racial slurs, Blood, Death, and Suicide

Minor: Addiction and Animal cruelty

hailstorm3812's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.5

I love Luli so much. Honestly I think it kind of sped through the ending and I could have had another 100 pages watching her earn her triumph and reconnect with loved ones

(including Jane???)

But whatever structural issues there are are overwrought by the extreme awesomeness of the vibes. Old Hollywood and the fae, what else could I want?

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexism, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual harassment

racheloddment's review

dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Sexual harassment

hendrixpants's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Homophobia

jordieisfarrell's review

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This is great if you are really into magical realism and an almost strictly character-driven story. For me, it was hard to get into and once I did I was rocking with it for a while, and then towards the end, it just lost my interest again. I get what the author was trying to do but it just fell kind of flat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Gore

smalika's review

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence

Minor: Death and Addiction

lucystolethesky's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Kidnapping, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia