Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

8 reviews

hfleur's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

Minor: Murder and Slavery

chaos_fairy's review against another edition

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? No

4.0

Set in Roman Britain, told in blank verse with a modern twist, about a young Black girl married off by to a middle-aged Roman; a refreshing  read in a world of white-washed historical fiction, we get to see a more demographically accurate Londinium 211 AD — a fledgling commercial centre in the northern reaches of an empire ruled by the Libyan-born Septimius Severus, populated by not only native Bretons but also migrants from across the Roman Empire and beyond, including the main character’s Sudanese parents. 

Evaristo infuses the narrative with modern language, a device I love in historical fiction when done well. Rather than using formal, ornate language common in historical fiction, Evaristo uses, modern slang, idioms and innuendos, differing speech patterns for peasants and merchants, soldiers and senators — far from what some might call historical inaccuracy (what would be accurate about Roman Britain speaking anything close to 20th century English, anyway?), the contemporary storytelling allows a more authentic relationship between the reader and the characters. 

The writing is well-paced and entertaining, and both witty and insightful. It deals with difficult topics — Zuleika is married and experiences sex as a girl, before she can learn to understand desire. But it also paints a world where pleasure, joy and love are always possible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Slavery, Infidelity, Colonisation, and Toxic friendship

lucys_library's review

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Body horror, Death, Blood, Rape, and Torture

schorlett's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, War, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Confinement

lenin_lover_69's review

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

Moderate: Rape

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.75

This is the most unique book that I've ever read, but then again, it's my first experience reading a novel in verse. But the whole time, I felt honoured to be reading something so beautiful, so graphic, so charming, so brutally honest, so raw, so well-written. 

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the poetic writing, but once you learn the author's style, it's simply the most lovely thing. Mix that with the brutal content and graphic scenes of the book, and it's truly something so jarring (in a good way).

I absolutely loved watching the main character explore her sexuality and take ownership of it throughout the novel. The sex scenes were so original, too. The author really knows how to play with language.

I recommend this book, especially for first time novel-in-verse readers. It's incredible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Toxic relationship

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

relaxing medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Slavery, Confinement, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Rape

hardcoverhearts's review

adventurous funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

This book takes place in London when Romans occupied it and it was called Londinium. There is a brutal and horrific coliseum scene of death for sport in all sorts of forms. It’s powerful and effective in how it impacts the narrator. But rough to read.