Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

8 reviews

emmylux7's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful 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

3.25

alyssa cole was able to strike a good balance between the characters/plot. I adored Elle as a main character. we love a snarky, take no shit queen! Malcolm is the definition of a golden retriever. although some of his dialogue had me rolling my eyes. his character was a bit of fresh air. he could've very easily been the broody type. which as we all know are a dime a dozen in romance. their romance did come off a bit too insta-lovey for my taste. but it wasn't the most egregious offense compared to others I've read. in all this was a good book to start the year off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Racism, War, and Hate crime

Moderate: Trafficking

Minor: Gore

imds's review

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Slavery, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, War, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Death, Death of parent, and Trafficking

mandi4886's review

adventurous emotional tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Confinement, Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Racism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racial slurs, Blood, Grief, Sexism, Slavery, and War

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Body horror, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Abandonment, Ableism, Cursing, Gore, and Gun violence

Minor: Xenophobia, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Stalking, Torture, and Vomit

candidceillie's review

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Trafficking, and Torture

no rape on page, but heavily discussed throughout the book

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