Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

301 reviews

abloo17's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Emotional and beautifully written. WWII can be a tough setting to write in and Kristin Hannah mastered it. Just enough detail and development to keep the plot and characters moving while telling an impactful story of resilience. The end was heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. 
I take away a half point because it was a very slow start for me but the middle and end cruised. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and War

tbrickner's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

Kristin Hannah is 2 for 2 on making me ugly cry at the end of her books.

The last quarter of this book had me sobbing uncontrollably. Kristin Hannah takes you through World War II France with two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle. Hannah's storytelling grips you, making you feel like you're right there with them. The bond between Vianne and Isabelle is so well written. Their relationship is complex and dynamic, filled with resentment at times, but there is still so much love. Love is carried throughout this book, even in the most painful parts, love stays steady. Highly recommended, but be prepared to have your heart and your emotions thrown all over the place.

The first chapter set in 1995, with its hint of mystery about the narrator's identity, kept me guessing until the very end. Not knowing who was the narrator in the first chapter and going back to that narrator in other chapters throughout was an interesting way to keep me as a reader pushing forward to find out which of the characters lived beyond the war. And when the truth was finally revealed, I found myself sobbing even more.

For audiobook readers: I did a tandem audio/physical read, and the narrator did a great job with all the various accents of characters.

Trigger warning: it's emotional and heavy at times, doesn't shy away from brutalities and horrors of war, tackling topics like violence, rape, and death.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and War

kaligray's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Miscarriage

kasslandry's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad 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

5.0

If I could give this book 500 stars I would. I am still trying to comprehend just how special this book is…Kristin Hannah really did justice to the brave women of world war 2 with this one!! Absolutely devastating and heartbreaking but so beautifully written! This book will stick with me for a long time!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and War

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, and Murder

kdevine's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War

risorial's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

opplecopter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Abandonment

Minor: Cursing, Suicide, and Excrement

stephliljazz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was a tearjerking, inspiring, dark historical fiction about German occupied France and the things the French did to fight the Nazi, help allies and survive the war. I was a mess finishing this book. The hang over is a lot. 
I'm going to share some quotes.
"I know that grief, like regret, settles into our DNA and remains forever a part of us."
"The past has a clearity I can no longer see in the present."
"Does one follow a leader blindly?"
And my favorite.
"Americans. They didn't listen."

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

erinvasut's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Deportation

frannydo's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

I haven’t felt this many emotions when reading a book in a long time. This is not a relaxing story in any way but oh my goodness it is a fantastic read. I was scared, tense, sad, angry and many other thing through the course of this book but I just had to keep reading. The characters are so full of life, I felt every emotion with them. Beautifullly written and an important story to be told. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Deportation