Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Godshot by Chelsea Bieker

30 reviews

andalucia's review

emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry

lindsaysymes's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

shannkfitz's review against another edition

dark sad

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

bananski's review

challenging dark emotional

4.5

This is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read. Chelsea Bowler’s prose is great, but I would not suggest it unless you are in a really healthy state of mind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Incest, and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide

defeating_my_demons's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death

wallanderem's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, and Grief

aalfie's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

this book made me want to crawl out of my skin but i know i’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Alcoholism, Vomit, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

nscott's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-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

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Incest

sbauer2894's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking, Incest, Child abuse, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pregnancy

sarahholliday's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Godshot is one of those books that I can't say I enjoyed...but it's stuck with me, and I that can be more meaningful in the long run when it comes to stories.

If I had to describe the story in a single word, it'd be: BLEAK. A relentless study in just how gross and awful humans can be, there's also the added weight of climate change, broken-down familial relationships, and an oppressive sense of hopelessness. 

But that might be why the ending (I won't spoil anything here, don't worry) is so beautiful. There are no "easy" answers or perfect happily-ever-afters, but there is hope. Bieker forces readers to sit in the truly miserable, to face the realities experienced by so many, in order to point out the ability of love, kindness, and beauty to exist in the most unlikely of places. There's no sentimentality in that idea, either. Just a simple yet deeply-rooted conviction that things can be truly awful and occasionally wonderful all at the same time. 

This is definitely not a book for everyone, but it'll go on my recommendation list nevertheless and I'll be waiting to run across the right reader.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Suicide, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, and Gaslighting