Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

5 reviews

vivelarevolution's review against another edition

Yael's age is not stated. I assumed that she was a young adult for most of this book. Her brother Amram is a year older than her. Aziza is sixteen when she is introduced and begins a secret romantic and sexual relationship with him. This means that either Yael was a teenager when she had an affair at the beginning of the book, or that Yael's brother Amram is an adult in a relationship with a sixteen year old.

I don't feel comfortable continuing to read the book with this information in mind as I feel the author presented both relationships as consensual and between peers. That cannot possibly be the case. I don't understand the widespread inclination in historical fiction to portray pedophilic relationships as acceptable and understandable just because of the time period, and I don't condone it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Genocide, Violence, Rape, Antisemitism, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Sexism, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Medical content, and Adult/minor relationship

The rape is depicted graphically on pages 184-185.

rspades's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Infertility, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, and Infidelity

stellarstar's review against another edition

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

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

4.75

Rich in symbolism and Jewish history. Beautifully crafted. Having visited Masada myself many years ago, The Dovekeepers made it even more real for me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Death of parent, War, Violence, Antisemitism, Blood, Colonisation, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Self harm

Minor: Slavery

betag1013's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Slavery, War, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Self harm, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Animal death, Confinement, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War

laindarko2's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Pregnancy, War, Genocide, Self harm, Child death, Death, Animal death, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Slavery, and Sexual violence

Minor: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Chronic illness, and Confinement