Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

25 reviews

crisania's review

adventurous sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I like how this book focused on the lives of older heroines. All the characters are well developed. My favorite is Gus' character - she's independent, courageous, witty and adventurous.  The book has a strong plot driven by various cases that the twins go to solve along with Lord Evan Belford. The author was able to stay true to the time period while dealing with topics like women's health, sex trafficking, domestic abuse, death, and abuse of power. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Cancer, and Excrement

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

jenabest's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

3.0

I feel a little duped by the blurb here, and, in all fairness, the Regency Era is not a favorite of mine. 

Despite the cover and blurb, this is rather dark. The topics are dark (cancer, asylums, human trafficking/prostitution, etc.) and disguised by the air of gentry. Do not be fooled - this is not a lighthearted mystery series. Even the romance aspect is rather dark. It's not what I expected, but the writing was good, so I'm not too down-and-out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Cancer, and Trafficking

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

idesofmarch's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Medical content, Trafficking, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Blood, and Gun violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Excrement, Cancer, and Child death

Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Rape, Incest, and Racism

aseel_reads's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-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 truly didn't think I would enjoy this book was much as I did. It striked a good balance between historical fiction (for that time period) and adventure/mystery! Just the feminist tones while kicking ass, fantastic. I also loved the sister relationship so much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Murder, Outing, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Confinement, Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death of parent, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Trafficking, Death, Racism, and Violence

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

turrean's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.25

Kudos for queer representation, for sharing a character’s journey away from religious belief, and for some fascinating Regency vulgarities.

However, the  lighthearted Austenesque situation at the beginning of the book is quickly overshadowed by some horrific set pieces (the brothel, the hospital, the madhouse.) The descriptions of human trafficking, rape, brutal and inhuman incarceration, and the tortures of surgery with no anesthesia were doubtless historically accurate but no less painful to read. The copy of the book I read had an excerpt of a review right above the title: “Smart and sassy!!” which was an odd choice for a book that tells unflinchingly of the treatment of women in that era. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Cancer, Child abuse, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization

The book is tagged as “lighthearted” by many readers. No. It’s not.