Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

16 reviews

heydebigale's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

CW: racism & graphic violence

Romances where I learn history are top tier books! The book opens up the same year that *that incredibly racist popular book is set* this book is from a Black perspective & is SO good.

Elle is a spy for the union who has an impeccable memory. Malcolm is also a spy for Pinkerton but is posing as a Rebel soldier. The pie work together to uncover a confederate plot to break up the union blockade. 

Elle is based off of a real Black spy named Mary Bowser who had an eidetic memory who was placed in the Jefferson Davis whitehouse who funneled information to the Union. Definitely read the authors note!


This book addresses many of the issues faced by enslaved and free Black people during the civil war. I appreciated the discussion on repatriation & Elle’s realization that America was her home. 

Highly recommend this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, and Violence

confusedmuse's review

adventurous fast-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

2.0

This probably would’ve worked for me if the relationship had grown out of the leads needing to collaborate for a dangerous mission, but since the romance instantly happens, it just felt silly. Also, for supposedly being the best spies their organization has, they sure are bad at their jobs.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, and Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

aqtbenz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Trafficking, Racism, Medical content, and Kidnapping

emfass's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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? It's complicated

2.0

I really wanted to like this book. I'm updating my review a week after finishing it--the more I think back to this book, the more I think it just overall didn't work for me. Both the romance and the spy plot weren't compelling to me; I was SO STRESSED for the two main characters at all times, and I didn't find the development of their relationship very convincing.

I did appreciate how Malcolm was maybe the first person to make Elle feel really seen, but otherwise I just was not impressed with where he sat in his privilege, and didn't think he grew enough to deserve to be with Elle. 

Also, for being a spy plot romance, I found things moved pretty slowly. The switching back and forth between trying to further the romance and trying to further the action felt choppy throughout. There was also so much redundancy in their inner monologues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Death and Suicide

paolina's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

I love Alyssa Cole's books. She's a master of crafting engaging romances that aren't all fluff, but tackle historic and social commentary. I'd say that the main characters fall for eachother pretty fast, but if that actually bothered me I wouldn't read so much romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide

kayo32's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Violence, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Rape, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Death, and Confinement