Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood

30 reviews

chambersaurusrx's review

dark emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, War, Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, and Sexism

sadiesupercynski's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was heartbreaking for many reasons and in many ways. There were several dark and difficult themes explored, which is something I like in a book but may not be for everyone. 

Daughters of Sparta is a fascinating version of the magnificent Trojan war mythology, told from two new points of view: the women behind the scenes of the original telling, Klytemnestra and Helen. Through these points of view, you are given glimpses into the challenges, heartbreak, cruelty, loneliness, grief, strength, and regret these characters face due the suppression of women, the liberties of men, and the casualties of war. 

Rather than being characters or presence in this retelling, the gods and goddesses from the original telling are given a backseat as simple idols of a belief system, giving the story a more historical, realistic feel rather than a supernatural one. 

Be sure to check out the content warnings before diving in, as many heavy and triggering topics play a role in this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Child death

therealslimkatie's review

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

Hard to get into but did pick up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

salamanda's review

adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Rape and Violence

alyssa_b_dub's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

cr1ssb's review

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Violence, War, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death and Blood

isabellejulianne's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

I think this book would pair nicely with The Song of Achilles since both are written about the Trojan War, but more focused around Helen and Klytemnestra’s side. This book was beautifully written and truly captured women’s struggles in a strict patriarchal society. I was not a fan of the ending. It did not seem to wrap up the story in the way that I wanted it to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Miscarriage, Slavery, and Violence

everyotherpageorso's review against another edition

sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I honestly enjoyed most of the novel, but it seemed like all middle and no end. The book itself isn’t so much of a retelling as it is a prequel, which was disappointing. It included two of my pet peeves, as well, being 1.) casting Helen as perpetually self-involved and 2.) the dreaded miscommunication trope. To be fair, I feel as though Heywood does a great job expressing her struggles but she faces almost no consequences and therefore never really grows (in my opinion). Klytemnestra was the strongest character by far. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Misogyny, Child death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, and Rape

rileepickle's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I really enjoyed this novel, especially towards the end. I think the biggest issue I had with it was that it shifted from focusing on Klytemnestra to focusing on Helen in the latter parts of the novel. I found Klytemnestra's story much more interesting than Helen's, although Helen's was intriguing as well. I didn't like the way this novel ended, and had more questions about some of the plot points that weren't answered. Overall though, a fun and emotional read with lots of jarring scenes and important themes. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, Child death, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

lian's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Child death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Suicide, and Violence