Latest news with #ACourtofThornsandRoses
Buzz Feed
30 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
35 Practical Products That Double As Your Weekly Reward
Monday Haircare Dry Shampoo will keep your locks looking fabulous even when you haven't found a spare moment to indulge in an 'everything shower.' It features the scent of gardenias, a built-in keratin treatment (see ya, frizz), and an aesthetically pleasing pale pink bottle you'll want to display on your bathroom counter. Eos 24H Moisture Super Balm in a delectable marshmallow fluff flavor that'll hold you over until you can actually sit 'round a campfire and make s'mores with your pals. Oh, and it'll keep your lips feeling hydrated all day and night! A winged eyeliner stamp to help you nail that chic liquid eyeliner look without having to remove the uneven line you drew yourself 10x. Prepare to look in the mirror and say, "wow this cat eye looks PURRfect," A box of limited edition Band-Aids that'll have you singing "You belong among the wildflowers" a la Tom Petty while applying one of these beauties to your scraped knees. A box of flash-frozen coffee pods you can use to whip up a delicious caffeinated bev faster than you can say "I need coffee." All you have to do is defrost and pour over milk and ice for a delectable latte or pour hot water over the frozen pod for a life-changing hot coffee. Plus, the coffee itself is made from recognizable bean brands you likely already love like Counter Culture, Onyx, and Joe Coffee! A fan favorite Takeya cold-brew maker with over 52K 5-star reviews (holy moly!) so you can always have a surplus of liquid gold in the fridge. Warmer weather is here, so you best be prepared to serve up iced coffee at any given moment! Vanilla Velvet Touchland Power Essence Hydrating Body and Hair Fragrance you can easily stow away in your tote to freshen up your scent throughout the day (a must during these gross, sweaty, summer days). Glamnetic press-on nails that'll last waaaaay longer than a regular mani — they come in *so* many cool designs everyone will be asking for your manicurists digits (their number *and* their nails, hehe). A darling paper towel holder with a cat at the top that'll look totally purr-fect hanging out in your kitchen. One reviewer even repurposed it to stash hair scrunchies! A two-pack of undated planners that'll look cute on your desk while also providing you with the perfect space to note that you need to plan your cat's birthday party, text your mom about your date from last night, and pick up some coffee beans. A personalized book stamp you can use to literally make your mark in the novels you typically loan out to your book club buds. Sorry, Stacy-steals-a-lot, we're going to catch you red-handed the next time you try to snatch our copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses. A ribbon bookmark that'll have you tossing your Kindle aside so you can show off this coquettish beauty in a physical book. Can't you imagine Belle from Beauty and the Beast accessorizing her novel of the day with one of these?! An adorable egg separator to prevent you from saying "Oopsie daisy!" every time you accidentally break an egg yolk before adding it to your recipe. A flower-shaped pill organizer that'll last you a whoooooole lot longer than those supermarket flowers you picked up earlier this week — for a pill organizer it is *quite* aesthetically pleasing, and each "petal" is detachable, so if you're spending a night or two away from home you can pop 'em off and take only what you need with you. 🌸 A "Gracula" garlic crusher to make even the most serious of chefs let out an audible giggle. Unless that chef is, of course, a vampire. They might not find it quite as hilarious — but let them know it can crush nuts up, too! Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows because, if we're being honest (and I like to think we've reached a point in our relationship where we can be blunt), the ones you've been sleeping on are starting to resemble Flat Stanley. It's time for you to upgrade your sleeping situation, friend! Plus, a pair of satin pillowcases that'll reduce friction between your hair/skin and your pillow (which will reduce frizz and breakouts and keep you looking in tip-top shape). Not to mention, they'll look super glamorous on top of your bed. A rechargeable lighter to light every candle in your house to create the *perfect* ambience without concern you'll run out of lighter fluid. And a pumpkin and sweet vanilla candle in a gorgeous glass jar that'll easily double as decor while it fills your house with the sweet smell of autumn. No reason to wait for the "ber" months to arrive, embrace your favorite season whenever the mood strikes (aka, now). A glass tumbler for glamming up your daily iced coffee. It'll look super cute on your countertop, and there's just something about a fancy tumbler that makes your drinks taste 10x better amirite? Cheers to THAT. Or a Brumate Era 40-ounce water bottle with a locking feature that'll ensure you never have a repeat of the other day where you accidentally bumped your arm into your cup and spilled your freshly filled drink ALL over your Exfoliating skincare mitts designed to lift away dead skin (and remove a spray tan that's seen better days) — an excellent way for you to kickstart a spa-like experience at home or, you know, give you an excuse to send some gross before and after pics to your pals. A low-profile under-the-cabinet banana hanger that'll have you whipping out your credit card faster than Donkey Kong crushing barrels to get to a bunch of bananas. You'll love how easy it is to install (it literally just sticks on with a strong adhesive) and how much room you suddenly have on your counter without your go-to breakfast taking up residence. Floral kitchen knives to make every meal prep feel like springtime (how refreshing!) — a new, sharp, beautiful set of tools is sure to motivate you to make dinner at home instead of Seamless-ing dinner for the umpteenth time. An instant foot-peeling spray that'll have you saying, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Was this concocted by a witch in the woods?" because it works so incredibly well you won't believe your eyes as it renews your feet and leaves all of your dead skin in its wake. A darling heart-shaped Paris Hilton cast-iron Dutch oven you can leave out on display in your Barbie-esque kitchen, obviously, and also utilize for whipping up delicious recipes. It'll have you saying "Le Who-set?" whenever someone asks if it's from another, pricier brand. A "Cup Cozy Pillow" — AKA an absolute essential for achieving peak comfort goals in your living room. It features a spot to hold your remote, two mugs, and two additional beverages. You honestly may never want to leave your couch again. A set of cat-shaped double-sided sponges because why not turn one of your most hated tasks (scrubbing, well, anything) into an adorable experience that'll encourage you to do it *meow* instead of later? Hawaiian Tropic's SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen Brush to finally solve your dilemma over whether to spray/rub sunscreen onto your exposed scalp. Simply brush this translucent powder along your exposed part/hairline (after applying it all over your face, of course) to add some much-needed protection from the sun. Glitter-infused highlighters, so the next time you get the urge to annotate your already worn-down copy of Pride and Prejudice, you can do so with the kind of flair Jane Austen deserves. You better believe I'm reserving shimmery red for Mr. Darcy. And some colored pencils with multi-colored tips that'll transform any boring coloring sesh into something straight out of your wildest dreams. I hope you're imagination is ready to put these babies to work! The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook complete with 150 recipes, all using ingredients you can pick up at your beloved supermarket. Enjoy a night of unwinding with a tasty new meal. A wireless keyboard and mouse set featuring an aesthetic vibe that might just make you *actually* look forward to spending eight hours at your desk. At the very least your coworkers will be super jealous of how coordinated your workspace looks. A colorful pin that'll help take the guesswork over what you should order for dinner — no more endless debating while hungrily scrolling through the Seamless app. A sunrise alarm clock to wake you so pleasantly you'll forget that you're supposed to be cranky about heading off to work. Maybe, just maybe, you'll feel like the rising baby sun from Teletubbies instead. Who knows!
Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Why Generation Woke loves romantasy
When the willowy human Feyre meets the faerie Tamlin in A Court of Thorns and Roses (known as ACOTAR by fans), he is a 'snarling gigantic beast with golden fur'. Drama ensues when Tamlin, with his 'elf-like horns' and 'yellow fangs', kidnaps Feyre. He keeps her in captivity, then claims her: turning up in her room at night and clamping his teeth down on to her neck against her will. Two hundred pages later, the pair finally have sex and Feyre marvels that while 'his claws were out' they are 'devastatingly gentle on my hips as he slid down between my thighs and feasted on me'. She moans his name and he 'sheathed himself inside me in a powerful, slow thrust that had me splintering around him'. Welcome to 'romantasy', the genre that is single-handedly propping up women's literature. The world of The Lord of the Rings and The Faerie Queene has been crossbred with Mills & Boon and E.L. James. It's Fifty Shades of Fur. Fantasy, a genre once reserved for video game-loving nerds, meets the airport beach read. The heroes are dragons, faeries who appear as stags and shapeshifters; the sex is far more explicit and, crucially, violent. A Court of Thorns and Roses began the trend. It has now sold 13 million copies. Hashtags dedicated to ACOTAR on TikTok have billions of views and it has been rated by almost four million people on Goodreads. So popular is the book that Bloomsbury has just launched an imprint, Bloomsbury Archer, to focus solely on the romantasy genre. 'Chick lit' is nothing new. Neither is erotica. But the romantasy phenomenon is something else. It is literature taken to its lowest form. Most other books are either character- or plot-driven. Romantasy is trope-driven; Stockholm syndrome seduction, enemies to lovers or 'he's an assassin'. The plotlines are contrived and ridiculous, and the male characters think and talk in a way no man ever has, nor will. From Blood and Ash (you can see how easy it is to come up with a title for this tosh) is a romp through a medieval world of vampiric werewolves. When our heroine Poppy first meets Hawke, the sexy lycanthrope, her first observation is 'how tight his breeches were, how they gloved his body, leaving very little to the imagination'. Plot is merely a device to take us from one sex-fuelled encounter to the next. Poppy is left 'warm and tingling', a feeling which reminds her of her 'first sip of bubbly champagne'. This is the fever dream of a teenage girl. Romantasy is sold to women via 'tags'. Books are advertised on 'BookTok' as 'magical fairytale but the villain gets the girl', 'fairy Cinderella retelling with a love triangle', 'sexy Vikings' and 'post-apocalyptic magic assassins'. Readers are encouraged to pick out a 'Book Boyfriend' based on their preferred traits and are then funnelled into a series promising the exact components they've asked for. This is a world constructed perfectly for Gen Z, who are terminally online. It's literary BDSM. Bitty, derivative, sexual mulch. Reading these books grants you access to an exclusive online community. Are you more of a 'forbidden love' girl or do you like 'dark academia romance'? Whatever it may be, content is being churned out for you. These books aren't even necessarily for reading. They are ornamental, to be displayed on a shelf as proof you are a member of the club. One of the most popular ways to collect romantasy books is through a subscription box such as FairyLoot or Illumicrate, both of which have waiting lists. You pay up to £50 a month and are sent a box containing a special hardback edition (reworked as a gold emblazoned objet d'art) and an assortment of tat including bookmarks, mugs and tiny bows and arrows. Publishers love these subscription services. They guarantee a book will be purchased tens of thousands of times and can immediately generate bestsellers. Originality is not encouraged. For a book to find a coveted slot in the golden box, it needs to be almost the same as the previous book featured. Take two of the genre's most popular novels. In Fourth Wing, Violet Sorrengail (a small, mousy, chronically ill teenager) is forced to attend a dangerous dragon school, all while avoiding death at the hands of one of the most powerful riders, Xaden Riorson (a dark, handsome dragon-rider who has rippling muscles). In another popular work, Powerless, Paedyn Gray is forced to compete in a series of Purging Trials all while concealing feelings for a prince who would murder her if he knew the truth about her. What is most bizarre is that, despite violent and sometimes coercive sex being the main selling point for many of these books, each comes with a list of trigger warnings (which consequently remove any mystery). They alert readers to 'kidnapping/imprisonment', 'ableism/ableist language', 'body shaming' and 'forced betrothal', among a litany of other politically incorrect sins. There is a profound cognitive dissonance at play here. Romantasy is for the generation who came of age during the excesses of fourth-wave feminism, trigger warnings and social justice. Rebecca Yarros, author of the Fourth Wing series, which has sold more than two million copies, is currently facing cancellation over allegations she may be a 'Zionist'. Her crime: 'perpetuat[ing] the idea that 7 October was an attack on children' and refusing to ban translations into Hebrew. In a desperate bid to maintain readers, she has apologised for her 'white privileged voice' and donated books to Palestinian fundraisers. She knows, like all romantasy authors, that she is writing for the woke generation. And yet almost all the books involved coercion and compelled sex. Does the popularity of romantasy betray something missing from Gen Z's sanitised lives? The generation no longer having sex are devouring books which portray it in its basest form. The most hotly anticipated romantasy book of the year, Alchemised, is a direct reworking of a Harry Potter fan fiction written online. In it, Hermione Granger is sent as an enslaved surrogate to Draco Malfoy. Give me Emily Brontë any day over this.
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
10 BookTok Romantasy Reads To Read Right Now
If you're even mildly online, chances are you've heard whispers of the ✨ romantasy✨ genre; the magical literary genre that blends fantasy and romance together and has BookTok in a literal chokehold. If you're into… 1. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout ✨ "Nothing is ever simple when the gods are watching." ✨This is the book that launched a thousand obsessions. Poppy is a badass heroine sworn to a sacred destiny, until a smirking golden-eyed guard ruins everything. Expect: deadly secrets, enemies-to-lovers tension, and one hell of a plot twist. Perfect for fans of steamy slow-burns and morally gray men. 2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 🧚 Beauty and the Beast meets 1000+ fan theories and wingspans. 🧚If you're on BookTok, you know that this is just the start of everyone's romantasy journey. Feyre is a mortal huntress dragged into the fae lands, and that's just the beginning. This series has everything: epic romance, ancient curses, court politics, and "the mating bond." Once you meet Rhysand, it's over for you.(Honestly, anything written by Sarah J. Maas will become an obsession and key part of your personality...I don't make the rules. 🤷♀️) 3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 🐉 Think Hunger Games meets spicy dragon school. 🐉If you've ever wanted to ride dragons while navigating deadly exams, secret powers, and off-limits lovers, this is your book. Violet may not be physically built like a warrior, but she's no damsel, and her enemies? Yeah, they might be her only shot at surviving. 4. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen 🗡️ A princess assassin forced to marry the enemy king. What could go wrong? 🗡️This one is for the "stab him, then kiss him" folks. Lara is trained to destroy the man she's forced to marry, but the longer she spends with him, the more she questions everything. Expect slow-burn, political intrigue, and intense emotional payoff. 5. Radiance by Grace Draven 👑 An arranged marriage between a human and a monstrous fae prince…with zero insta-love. 👑This underrated gem is soft, slow, and swoony. Ildiko and Brishen aren't beautiful (or even really nice) to each first. But their respect, banter, and trust build one of the most wholesome (and still hot!) love stories in romantasy. 6. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin 🧙♀️ A witch and a witch hunter are forced to marry. Cue the chaos. 🧙♀️Lou is chaotic and sassy; Reid is stiff and serious. Watching them clash (and then burn) is half the fun. If you like morally complex worlds with forbidden romance, magic, and cinnamon-roll-turned-problematic men, grab this. 7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 🖤 Welcome to Elfhame, where lies are currency and love is war. 🖤 Jude Duarte is a human raised in the cruel fae court, and she's out for power. Cardan is the arrogant, hateful prince who can't stop watching her. It's toxic. It's soooo BookTok. And it' 8. The Savage Lands series by Stacey Marie Brown 🌶️ If you like the ACOTAR vibe but grittier and steamier, this one's for you. 🌶️It's set in a post-war world where fae rule and humans are barely surviving. Brexley (yes, icon name) is thrown into a deadly prison where survival means making alliances, especially with the dangerously beautiful fae warrior who might be her enemy…or her only shot at freedom. 9. The Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent 🧛♀️ Hunger Games meets vampire court meets epic love story. 🧛♀️ (Clearly, I love the Hunger Games a bit too much.) Oraya is a human adopted by the vampire god of death, and now she has to fight to survive the Kejari, a brutal tournament full of monsters, politics, and betrayal. Enter: a mysterious rival with secrets and sharp teeth. The tension? Unmatched. 10. The Married to Magic series by Elise Kova 🧝♂️ Fantasy marriage of convenience, soft cinnamon roll magic warrior elf king, and cozy romance vibes. 🧝♂️Each book in this series is a standalone with a fresh couple and setting, but they're all connected by a magical world and super romantic plots. In A Deal With the Elf King, a human girl is taken to the fae realm as the next "Human Queen," and her icy elf king husband is not ready to fall in love…until he very much does. BONUS: If You're Craving Something Spicier… What other romantasy books would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
33 Adorable Products That Are Surprisingly Useful
A wireless keyboard and mouse set featuring an aesthetic vibe that might just make you *actually* look forward to spending eight hours at your desk. At the very least your coworkers will be super jealous of how coordinated your workspace looks. A tiny bookshelf that'll quickly become your favorite way to de-stress after a long work day — shake it to send the teeny books flying, then (after a restorative deep breath) put them back on the shelf. My apologies to your rage room membership, this might just be the solution you need. A personalized book stamp you can use to literally make your mark in the novels you typically loan out to your book club buds. Sorry, Stacy-steals-a-lot, we're going to catch you red-handed the next time you try to snatch our copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses. A pickleball set to pay homage to your new favorite hobby! It comes with two paddles, four balls, and a bag that'll ensure you've got the best-looking gear of all your competitors. Glitter-infused highlighters, so the next time you get the urge to annotate your already worn-down copy of Pride and Prejudice, you can do so with the kind of flair Jane Austen deserves. You better believe I'm reserving shimmery red for Mr. Darcy. And a 12-pack of squishy animal-themed gel pens (complete with 24 colorful refills!) that'll look adorable hanging out on your desk. There's enough in the pack that you can graciously pass 'em out to your colleagues, too. A box of 100 tie-dye Band-Aids in assorted sizes that'll make that gnarly papercut you just got look pretty darn *~groovy~*. Saem Iceland Hydrating Eye Stick — it'll reduce the under-eye circles and puffiness you're prone to having if "Sleepy" is your middle name, but you're simply not catching enough Zzzs these days. A big shout out to the glacial waters it's formulated with, amiright? A blackhead scrub stick that'll exfoliate clogged pores and remove excess sebum while being a bit reminiscent of the adorable lil' character from Finding Nemo who said, "You made me iiiiink!" A flower-shaped pill organizer that'll last you a whoooooole lot longer than those supermarket flowers you picked up earlier this week — for a pill organizer it is *quite* aesthetically pleasing, and each "petal" is detachable, so if you're spending a night or two away from home you can pop 'em off and take only what you need with you. 🌸 A "Gracula" garlic crusher to make even the most serious of chefs let out an audible giggle. Unless that chef is, of course, a vampire. They might not find it quite as hilarious — but let them know it can crush nuts up, too! A NeeDoh "Dream Drop," a must-have sensory fidget toy for anyone who can't seem to get their brain to focus on one task at a time. (Too many tabs open both literally and figuratively!) This lil' squish block is super satisfying to play with and reviewers love that it isn't sticky (no gross debris to try to clean off). A heart-shaped silicone ice cube tray because summer is HERE, and so are your chilled bevs! Spruce up your iced coffees and Long Island iced teas with a little love in the form of these cubes 💕. A set of cat-shaped double-sided sponges because why not turn one of your most hated tasks (scrubbing, well, anything) into an adorable experience that'll encourage you to do it *meow* instead of later? A "float-tea unicorn," aka the reusable tea infuser of your wacky dreams. When a summer storm rolls in to destroy your plans of lounging by the pool, you can nurse your cozy cup of tea alongside this festive friend until it passes. A Kitsch microfiber scrunchie to absorb all the water from your post-everything shower hair in a, dare I might say, stylish way. It'll also be *way* less cumbersome, so you can enjoy your deep dive on the ladies of MomTok without a towel falling over your eyes. An emotional support lap pillow holder for your Kindle, iPad, and phone that'll securely prop them up so you won't miss a second of the old season of Summer House you're watching for the tenth time. Reviewers love that it's plush, comfy, and has the perfect spot to stash their snacks. A dimmable flexible clip-on mushroom light so when someone says "I mush ask you a question" you'll be ready to actually see what they're saying. It has five different color-changing LED lighting options you can adjust as needed — ya love to see it. Or a little elephant touch lamp you'll adore so much it might just help you get over the trauma of watching Dumbo be separated from his mother (yikes, sorry, I went there). In all seriousness, it'll be a great lighting option for your bedside table or in a nursery where you're in/out of the room all night. An adorable egg separator to prevent you from saying "Oopsie daisy!" every time you accidentally break an egg yolk before adding it to your recipe. A set of quirky animal-themed hair clips, so fun you'll want to start planning all of your outfits around them. Everyone's going to want to know where you got these playful accessories. Cactus-shaped dryer balls for anyone who is tired of buying dryer sheets — these prickly pals will ensure your laundry dries faster and gets softer with each wash. A ribbon bookmark that'll have you tossing your Kindle aside so you can show off this coquettish beauty in a physical book. Can't you imagine Belle from Beauty and the Beast accessorizing her novel of the day with one of these?! A fan favorite Simple Modern tumbler with a magical twist you can count on to convince yourself to drink more H2O on the go — reviewers love it for the way it fits in their cup holders and keeps their water super cold for long periods of time ✨. And a personalized straw topper that'll hilariously help you mark which cookie cutter tumbler is yours — I'm begging you, please get one made of something extra silly like a cut out of your own face or Nicolas Cage's. A darling paper towel holder with a cat at the top that'll look totally purr-fect hanging out in your kitchen. One reviewer even repurposed it to stash hair scrunchies! The cutest cherry toilet brush — it's leak-and-rust-proof (huzzah!) and will, of course, add some extra pizzazz to your bathroom. You might just start to hate cleaning your toilet a little bit less. 👏 A building block tissue box because chances are if you have kids, someone in your house is a snotty mess right now — might as well make blowing everyone's noses a little more fun, right? A set of LED light saber chopsticks you're going to need to order two sets of so you can share 'em with the Chewbacca to your Han Solo (AKA whoever happens to be who you get sushi with every Friday night). One reviewer even ingeniously used them as hair accessories when visiting Galaxy's Edge! A Hugaround plush — a weighted doll designed with heavy arms so it can "hug" and cling to you like a little stress relieving bestie. It can be frozen or popped into the microwave, making it the perfect pal for helping you relax. A CD mirror for the Millennials who still have a box filled with mixes they burned with Sharpie-written labels on 'em that say "2010s jams" or "Taylor Swift Fearless Tour" despite not owning an actual CD player. Get your nostalgic fix *and* check your makeup with this fun piece of decor. A handmade ceramic fried egg spoon rest to pay tribute to your habit of having breakfast for dinner several times a week. Egg sandwiches at 6 p.m.? Sign me up, Chef! It's also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning (heck, yeah!). And a wildflower-covered Nintendo Switch JoyCon case for any self-proclaimed cozy gamer who would love nothing more than to zhuzh up their most-used gadget with something that feels more "them."
The Advertiser
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Calls for content rating as violence, misogyny found in young adult fiction
Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment. Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment. Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment.
