The "I just can't help but want the bad man" trope is not unique to this book, but that doesn't make it any less unsettling. The protagonist approximates a strong female lead, but experiences compulsive attraction toward a character that is controlling of her, treats her family/friends/community with extreme violence, and interacts with her in ways reminiscent of stalking behavior. Sexuality in this book is tightly bound to dynamics of power and control. Furyborn, though, is rarely a book about loving relationships, and its romanticization of abuse should be considered before labeling it YA fiction. Socially transgressive sexual practices, when approached safely and with full buy-in by the parties involved, can absolutely be a part of healthy, loving relationships. Portrayals that normalize healthy, loving intimacy can model healthy real-world relationships. There's plenty of sex in contemporary media, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that. I wouldn't recommend the book for anyone still in a formative period of social/emotional development. I wo …more I'm sure I'll catch flak for this reading, but I believe the book's portrayal of sexual and relational power dynamics is fundamentally unhealthy. Chris Keefe I'm sure I'll catch flak for this reading, but I believe the book's portrayal of sexual and relational power dynamics is fundamentally unhealthy.
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