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pleek6's review against another edition
Too much casual violence without a critical perspective. Very male gazy in a disgusting way. Very unpleasant read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, and Violence
impla77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Another very literary book that I didn’t particularly enjoy. For a book this long, I would expect to have some connection to the characters but the way the author writes, I felt unable to really see the characters as fully fleshed out. Everything is a little meandering and ponderous.. I wish I liked this one more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Rape, and War
adrionmacaron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
leahhateshardbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
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
2.5
I really didn't get on with the way this book was wirtten. Between overly written prose that made the most heartbreaking scenes quickly lose value, to the characters' daydreams which are apparently so rich and vivid in their mind that sometimes it was difficult to discern whether what was happening was real or imagined. I didn't like the whole *40 years later* sections that bookended the story, I don't think it was important enough to be how we enter the story, perhaps just at the end would have been better. I was so confused by Aster - does she like Hirut, does she hate Hirut, does she not know herself? Often her actions contradicted the way she verbalised how she felt about Hirut. It takes too long to understand why the book is called The Shadow King; you don't know until about half way through and although it's not a huge demerit it was frustrating as a reader (also The Shadow King, while a great title, is not completely representative of what the story is about... the women and not The Shadow King). Okay now good things! I liked the bones of the story, the plot was interesting, feeling somewhat like a car crash that you can't help but stare horrified at (in a good way!!) although imo it could have been at least 100 pages shorter, maybe even under 300 pages altogether (cut most of the earlier stuff rather than the later). Most importantly though the main character Hirut was very endearing and easy to root for. A low class young girl sent to be a maid for a rebel and his wife after the death of her parents, Hirut is confused, frustrated, defiant, and fierce, and we see her qualities that hinder her as a maid blossom as she becomes a soldier. Tbh I think it's a bit of an insult that the book isn't named after her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, and Death
emmah_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
3.5
An important and interesting story! I think this would be a great book for someone who likes battle scenes and who has the stomach for repeated and graphic SA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
ecmbeanie's review against another edition
I knew it was about war, but there were other things in the content warning (not related to the war) that were more graphic than I wanted to read. Gave the book to my sister with a more extended content warning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War
alexture's review against another edition
I wanted to read a book about female Ethiopian warriors. What I got instead was the story of a man who likes to rape everyone he runs into. Stopped midway as there were more pages detailing sexual assaults than pages without.
Also, this book has my pet peeve of not marking dialogue. Why do you do this, authors? Why do you want to confuse your readers?
Also, this book has my pet peeve of not marking dialogue. Why do you do this, authors? Why do you want to confuse your readers?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
perlaalva3's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-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? No
3.5
It’s a book that highlights a particular historical moment that we don’t know or learn too much about in the west. That being said I found the short sentences and exchanges off putting and the arch between characters unconvincing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
beriboo's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Death
moriahleigh's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Racism, War, and Domestic abuse