Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey

8 reviews

abicolee's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Violence, Animal cruelty, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, Excrement, and Rape

erebus53's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

 When American tourists haul in a mermaid off the shore of a small Caribbean Island, a local fisherman does his best to save her, only to find that she reverts to being a woman. She is deeply ancient and cursed, and her presence on the island shakes up tensions between the locals. Thematically this explores gender roles, the Deaf community, and the history of colonisation and slavery in the Caribbean. The author is born in Trinidad.

There are some ominous and creepy bits in this book, which meant it fit in well sandwiched between some of my other October reads. It definitely has some supernatural themes.. (duh, mermaid..?!) I think it's well worth checking out the Audiobook version, if only because it catches the accent of the place. Content is a bit violent and bloody, and occasionally sexual in nature, so probably for older readers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body horror, Grief, Bullying, Colonisation, Gore, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Ableism and Sexism

pkc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Rape, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Vomit, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

guzzie's review

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

annaem's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

The Mermaid of Black Conch is a love story about a mermaid and a man. Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Black Conch, Aycayia - a mermaid - is captured by fishermen and tortured. David rescues her and intends to put her back into the ocean. However, his (loose) plan doesn’t work out as he expected as she quickly begins the painful process of turning back into a woman. Aycayia and David feel a strong attraction to each other but their story is doomed from the outset. This is a beautiful, lyrical tale of love and loss. I loved the strong, female characters, the celebration of differences and the vivid descriptions in this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

closelywatchedfilms's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Violence

rachwalker's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Excrement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

carlybellesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual content