Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis

14 reviews

mogojojo1013's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was so amazingly good. All of these characters are so diverse and three dimensional. The pacing is really good and the writing is beautiful. The amount of character growth that happens is just astounding, and we get great commentary on things happening in our world through this sci-fi lense. We get great looks at mental illness and disability as well which I always love seeing. I will need to get the second and third books in this trilogy immediately so I can find out what happens next!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexism, Mental illness, Gun violence, Murder, Medical content, Death, War, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

livelaughlesbian99's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I really wanted to love this book! Unfortunately the structural problems are just glaring. I spent the first third of the book trying to keep up with largely unexplained worldbuilding. Without that grounding the flow of the plot was kind of confusing. I didn’t fully understand the significance of characters’ choices when I don’t fully understand their position in the world. It’s too bad— good world and premise but the execution killed a lot of it for me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual violence

beebeewin's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed this book and the casual queerness built into an otherwise classic sci-fi tale. I love the multiple perspectives and the viewpoints from both sides of the war, as it got me so engrossed in all angles.  It built in me an excitement  to see how this series plays out as I want to see all the characters interact.  Linden Lewis built a beautiful world and I am excited to see how they build off it and how the characters dynamics change. Plus, the I found myself so conflicted in the end about the romance which I love because the twist totally subverts the tropes of most novels. Plus gay love in any form is super appreciated. 

I think why this book doesn't crack the 4 star region is simply because at the end all the realizations came almost too rapidly. I wanted the end to be drawn out with the extreme detail and thoughtfulness that the earlier part of this book had. I feel like I got to know the characters so well I just wanted a little more time to see them processing and really growing into the character growth we were shown.

With all of that I am definitely excited to read the sequel. The world that Lewis built is rich and I am excited for all the political intrigue and interactions of all these characters. I would recommend this book for anyone look for a fun sci-fi space read with lots of queer representation and some exciting potential for a sequel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, and Violence

lanid's review

adventurous dark mysterious

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Racism, Terminal illness, War, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Body horror

rebeccajost's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Transphobia, Classism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Trafficking, Gun violence, Medical content, Racial slurs, Torture, Confinement, and Death of parent

implied adult/minor relationship, regarding trasphobia & dysphoria:

surgical transition and changing of someone's body without their consent

offbrandclubsoda's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Xenophobia, Violence, Gun violence, Death, and War

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Transphobia and Alcohol

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.5

 - It's hard to summarize THE FIRST SISTER. It's set in a huge, complex galaxy with two factions at war with each other, and we see those two sides intersect throughout the book, through defections, strategizing, secrecy and more.
- This is one of those dual POV books where you're always eager to return to the action of whoever's storyline you're in. Both First Sister and Lito's stories were so gripping.
- There are a couple of great plot twists: even if you see them coming, this book is fantastically plotted.
- I feel like I am not doing this book justice, lol. It's great! Just hard to condense into an IG caption. If you love space opera and romance and discussing power and inequality through sci-fi, go get it! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cursing, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual content

bookishjd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Slavery

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Dysphoria

laurajeangrace's review

adventurous fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, War, Suicide, and Medical trauma

Minor: Transphobia

peach_pie's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, War, and Xenophobia