Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The City Inside by Samit Basu

13 reviews

ceilidhwilliams's review

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

On one hand super intriguing and well rounded characters and atmosphere, but on the other the story end abruptly just as the action begins, if this was a series that would be understandable but its a standalone. The story's just unfinished

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Racism, and Rape

scornweed's review

sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

saucy_bookdragon's review

challenging dark 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? Yes

3.0

The City Inside is intensely focused on world building. Set in a near futuristic (next like 10-20 years) India struggling with fascism, climate change, and pandemics, so people escape through the internet (or "Flow") and virtual reality. It's realistic terrifying world building and the perspectives it was shown from were interesting as Joey and Rudra are by all means normal people. However, the book is heavy on exposition, the prose mainly long paragraphs explaining the world that made it a slog to get through and difficult to connect to the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting, and Misogyny

Moderate: Classism, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sarah984's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a really interesting story with an all too plausible dystopia and a great sense of place. Unfortunately I don't think the dual POV worked (the guy character was boring and considering what happened with him I think his parts could have been communicated through Joey) and I didn't really like the way the "sex scandal" (if you can call it that) plotline was handled.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Xenophobia, and Trafficking

uranaishi's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Classism, Colonisation, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Blood, Body shaming, Alcohol, Deportation, Fatphobia, Medical content, Cancer, Islamophobia, and Pedophilia

annaonthepage's review

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Gaslighting

smoakwithwifi's review

challenging dark reflective 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? Yes

3.25

I have very complicated thoughts about this book. On the one hand, there were some very interesting worldbuilding concepts and perspectives of a near-future India. On the other, characters were rather unlikeable and the author used a dialogue-heavy writing style tending toward stream of consciousness—building up a feeling almost of doomscrolling, which may have been intentional but set my teeth on edge nevertheless.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

Moderate: Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Gaslighting, War, Classism, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Stalking, Death, Genocide, Islamophobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Drug use

ehmannky's review

challenging dark reflective slow-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

3.0

I think I liked this book more once I let go of the idea that this was going to be a book of plot where I got super invested in the characters and more of an Idea book. It felt more like a small snapshot of this dystopian future, with a little hint of the potential for change that was coming. I almost would have liked it better without the epilogue, even if I understand the reason why it was there. The epilogue is an interesting look at the way someone could change from the shadows, and push society in a direction without revolution. Much to ponder, which made it a worthwhile read in my opinion, but also not my favorite thing I've ever read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence

Minor: War, Racism, and Genocide

jakegray's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

silence's review against another edition

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape