Reviews tagging 'Blood'

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

8 reviews

taylorlanxon's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual assault, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Gore, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Torture, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, and Medical trauma

randomkatisms's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Miscarriage, Blood, Physical abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

stabilesero's review

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

This book is intense. This book will absorb your tears, and crack at the spine when you slam it down in fear, in anger, in wanting hope for the characters.

I am so thankful for finding this gem; it isn't something I would have picked up on blurb alone. 

There are heavy topics through-out, so be warned; kidnap, sexual assault, physical assault are present throughout this book, and yes, you may need a hot bath at several stages to cleanse what you have read but this is reality. This is a raw, unglamorous account of what happens around the world to many women. Too many women. 

I finished it, and want to read it again. There are very few books that reach these depths of emotion, and can connect with women, with humans, with anyone who knows the horrors that could lurk around the corner. 

I am speechless, and I will forever recommend this book to anyone who dares to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Blood, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

emzireads's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Vomit, Torture, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Blood

ulalu's review

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Like all Gay, challenging, this one especially so. Just tragic honestly, incredibly hard to read, deeply disturbing. Important though. And masterful writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

chloejoy's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

fsprouls's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Violence

reebuttercup's review

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An Untamed State is beautifully written. It is a masterclass in jumping back and forth in time to describe characters' experiences and mental states in what is termed the "before" and "after". The story describes the worst that could happen to a woman (or anyone who finds themselves in such a situation) so be prepared for intense triggers. 

However, very few reviewers include "hopeful" as a mood for this book. Even though I understand why, I could not help but feel the hope in Mireille (the kidnapped protagonist). She herself thinks that she is giving up but every step of the way she makes decisions that increase her chances of going back to her family. I do not think this is a spoiler (after all we are told from the beginning that there is an "after") and I feel it needs to be highlighted for readers who might shy away from reading this book because of the difficult issues mentioned.

This is ultimately about finding mental gumption in the face of the extreme adversity and Roxane Gay handled it masterfully.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Confinement, and Kidnapping