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ClareR (5681 KP) rated Raybearer (Raybearer #1) in Books

Sep 15, 2020 (Updated Sep 15, 2020)  
Raybearer (Raybearer #1)
Raybearer (Raybearer #1)
Jordan Ifueko | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Raybearer is a fantasy set in part in West African myth (which I really wish I knew more about, by the way). Tarisai lives in a big house full of tutors and servants, all training her for one purpose. Her mother rarely visits, and Tarisai wishes she would visit more often - she longs for a mother who will care for her and touch/ hug her. The reason for this becomes very clear as the story progresses.

Tarisai learns that her education has been leading her to one end: to become part of the crowned Prince’s Council of Eleven, and to ultimately kill him. But Tarisai doesn’t want to fulfil her life’s purpose. She doesn’t want to be a murderer, and she actually really likes the Prince.

I shouldn’t be surprised, because I’ve said it often enough myself, but for those uninitiated in YA books, this actually deals with some pretty serious themes: gender roles, and the fact that girls don’t all want their sole life purpose to be that of a child bearer, and parental abuse of children (in this case, physical abuse - eg. hitting). So this isn’t a book for the faint hearted! It’s a beautifully told story though, it has a feel of the fairytale or myth about it, and I definitely think that it was time well spent. To top it off, I see that this is the first book in perhaps a duology or trilogy? I’ll be looking out for the next one, because I’m intrigued to see how this story will develop.

Many thanks to the publisher, Hot Key Books, and to NetGalley for my copy of this book.
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated One Of Us (2017) in Movies

Oct 24, 2017 (Updated Oct 24, 2017)  
One Of Us (2017)
One Of Us (2017)
2017 | Documentary
How religious dogma can appear under any situation
A heartbreaking documentary following three ex-Hasidic Jews, who are attempting to fight fanaticism within the ultra-orthodox community. From ex-communication, to rape, abuse, and kangaroo justice, the film shows how a wall of secrecy allows discrimination and zealotry to thrive.

In one story, a woman with seven children, who was abused by her husband and even at one point was run down whilst on her bicycle, because she tried to get a divorce through the court system. It's grim to say the least. Another young adult describes being raped as a child by a teacher, who was allowed to continue to work despite the claims.

The documentary is truly shocking and shows that extremism is reactive and can breed under any society and circumstance.
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) Oct 25, 2017

I'm a big fan of some of the Netflix documentaries, they're rather outstanding just because the content is very different.

Tales From the Hood (1995)
Tales From the Hood (1995)
1995 | Horror
8
7.2 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Tales From The Hood is a horror anthology made up of four short stories as well as a into and ending sequence.

The stories are:
Welcome to My Mortuary
Rogue Cop Revelation
Boys Do Get Bruised
KKK Comeuppance
Hard-Core Convert

Welcome to My Mortuary (ending)



I grew up watching this movie and even as a kid I always enjoyed it but as the older I got I really grew to understand that it is not just a horror movie in the sense that is deals with zombies, monsters, living dolls, and ghost but that it is a horror movie in the sense that it deals with real life horrors such as police brutality, abuse, racism, and gang violence all of which still hold extreme relevant 22 years after the movie was released.
  
The Declaration
The Declaration
Gemma Malley | 2007 | Young Adult (YA)
8
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great YA Dystopian Read (0 more)
YA cliches (0 more)
This book is a great read for a younger audience looking for a good YA series to sink your teeth into. Although there are many YA tropes and cliches, the premise of the book is interesting enough for this stereotypes to be overlooked.


The story is short so it won't take particularly long to read. I, being a slow reader, read the book is six hours.

As I said, the concept of the book is interesting, inviting you to question opinions on morality and immortality. The book does contain mild abuse because of the dystopian elements in the book however they are not graphic in detail.


I loved reading this book when I was younger and I am still enjoying rereading as an adult.
  
We are introduced to a few people in this new book and series. In the very beguining we learn about Lucy Troyer and her husband Paul. Lucy and Paul are married for two years, during that time Paul is physical and verbal abuse toward her and her family and her commuity see and know about but do thing about it.

Lucy then travel on a train to take care of her cousin Mattie who is having breast cancer. She meet a young man named Calvin and his sister, Katie and his uncle John. They are travel back home to Jacob Crossing. They get to know each other while traveling. They both have carry past hurts. Their train break down along the way and they have to band together while they face the outside world.
  
Unrequited (Fallen Aces MC, #1)
Unrequited (Fallen Aces MC, #1)
Max Henry | 2016 | Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was my first book by Max Henry but I've clearly been hooked!? LOVED this book! Not your typical love story... with everything from MC bikers to Cuban drug lords and murder. A dark read, with a few scenes that were tough to read.. abuse, pain, loss... so much packed into this story. There is also a beautiful love story in there... King comes from a good place, educated and with a loving hard-working family. He and Elena clearly have an intense connection and he wants nothing more than to save her without destroying his place in his MC. Watching the two of them struggle through was torture and that cliffhanger ending!? Oh, I will SURELY be back for the rest of this story - can't wait!! Highly recommended!!