Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

12 reviews

geminireader's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

What an incredible read! I picked this up in anticipation of Bridgerton Season 3 and I’m so glad I did. I was immediately drawn to this novel because it didn’t center around romance, and while there was a bit of romance sprinkled in, it delivered on its promise to be a unique and adventurous Regency era novel. I wish there was a bit more of warning… I felt the description made the novel seem a lot more lighthearted and fun. This book delves into some very dark topics of the time regarding the treatment of women. I felt a bit unprepared for those heavy topics, so please consider this aspect before you read if you have certain triggers. Otherwise, I am eagerly awaiting the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

Minor: Child death, Sexual violence, Rape, Incest, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

li_gao's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Medical content, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Medical trauma, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Vomit, Trafficking, Rape, and Lesbophobia

katyb24's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Trafficking, and Sexual violence

emilywc's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, and Excrement

rhi_'s review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gore, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Blood, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Cancer, Murder, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Death, and Eating disorder

Minor: Vomit, Pedophilia, Mental illness, and Deportation

goldseamedglass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Classism, Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Medical trauma, Torture, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Suicide, and Trafficking

Moderate: Sexual violence, Child death, Torture, Gun violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, Vomit, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity and Slavery

canonfolly's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Excrement, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault

lyricallit's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

Be warned, ends with a cliffhanger/definitive build up to a sequel -- which I CANNOT WAIT FOR! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Trafficking, Racism, Cancer, and Homophobia

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book from beginning to end but I confess that if I hadn’t had to read it for a book group, I’d never have picked it because it looks and sounds like it’s a lightweight “cozy mystery,” the last thing I’d normally choose. This has lots of humor and it’s quite entertaining but it’s about as far from cozy as you can get. Vivid descriptions of truly appalling situations abound. 

This is a feminist tirade against the abuse of women in the 18th and 19th Centuries, and nothing about it is gentle. I am not one to cry at books but I had tears in my eyes reading about the conditions at the private insane asylum - women chained half-naked in feces up to their ankles is just one example of the many cruelties and injustices. 

The author has done copious research on the Regency period of England (1811-1820), and it tells in the detail she brings to the story. This would be a good companion to Jane Austen’s books and the somewhat later ones of the Bronte’s. They focused on polite society whereas this book shows a part of England they may not have known existed. 

Unfortunately for me, this book was only just published so I’ll have to wait all too long for the sequel. I know it will be well worth the wait, but still….

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Cancer, Deportation, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Incest

katrinaward's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Suicide, Sexual assault, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence