Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

102 reviews

the_cat_on_a_bookcase's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a compelling story about a midwife who is torn between knowing the truth and having to prove it in the 1700s. The main character, Martha Ballard, is based on a real woman in American history and her personal journals (which I love when reading historical fiction!) This was part murder mystery and part a tale of the community that Martha was interwoven into. I loved the character development, how the story unfolded, and the liberties that the author took with the truth of history. The ending was a twist for me which definitely makes a mystery great in my book. Highly recommend this one to all the mystery & historical fiction lovers! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual assault

Moderate: Murder and Death

craftyanty's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is an engrossing story that gives insight into how women were treated in colonial times.  It is loosely based on a real historical figure, Martha Ballard. I absolutely loved the main character, as well as her husband and children. 
This could've a 5-star read for me, but the resolution of the climax felt a bit extreme. Still, I wholeheartedly recommend it .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual violence and Misogyny

smreads24's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Sexual violence and Child death

knapier5's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Medical trauma

jspelman14's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, and Murder

celery's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Ableism, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Medical content, Animal death, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Rape, War, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content

juanat77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Vomit, Cursing, Grief, Sexism, Sexual content, Bullying, Medical content, Miscarriage, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail

priscillavalenzuela's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual assault

lillypad827's review

challenging emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

I’d never heard of Martha Ballard before this book, but it’s so fascinating to me that we have historical records of people who lived so many centuries ago. This was an intricate historical fiction story. Slow-paced and LOTS of characters to keep track of, but kept my interest. My favorite part was when

Martha sliced off North’s dick.

JUSTICE! Overall, a good read, and I might check out some of the author’s other works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Sexual assault, Rape, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Violence

okapi_lover's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? No

3.75

I really, really wanted to love this one. It was fine. I enjoyed it overall, but it was slowww. I had a hard time getting into it, and there were so many characters to keep track of! I do appreciate the historical accuracy of the novel, and the ending--even though not historically accurate or very plausible, it was satisfying to see some justice.

Overall, I liked the book, but I found it forgettable. It isn't one that will stay with me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical content, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Infertility