Reviews tagging 'War'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

18 reviews

celeste77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This was surprisingly great read. I had not heard much about this book, but saw it on Libby so decided to try it. I loved it. It was a simple, but emotional story that had me guessing and trying to figure out what happened. There was also some romantic and friendship relationships sprinkled into the overall story. I loved this book. It didn't take long at all to become invested in Martha Ballard and the other characters' stories. This was also a standalone which can be a plus. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, and War

tinkrbe1l3's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

What an excellent read. An immersive and descriptive page turner told from the perspective of Martha - a heroine for the ages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

Minor: War, Blood, and Child death

amanda_reads89's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: War, Violence, Sexism, and Racism

jess_d84's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is one of the cases where I don't remember placing a hold on it or why, but read the book jacket when it showed up on my desk and decided it sounded intriguing. I'm so glad past-me placed a hold on this because it was such a compelling story inspired by real events in the life of midwife Martha Ballard. 

Told from Ballard's POV the book is part historical fiction, part murder mystery, part women's literature. 

Lawhon has a delicate, yet practical way with words. One that had me at once nodding and wondering why I'd never thought of "the stuff of life" in that way before.

This is my first by Ariel Lawhon, but certainly won't be my last!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Rape, Medical content, and Misogyny

Minor: Child death, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, and War

celery's review

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

torturedreadersdept's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Racism, Child death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Bullying, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual content, Grief, Excrement, Infidelity, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Abortion, Confinement, Cursing, and War

mdavis26's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Murder, Medical content, Incest, Grief, Sexual violence, Bullying, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Miscarriage, War, and Medical trauma

kate_m's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, and War

whatmorganreads21's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, War, and Murder

cj5300's review

adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Child death

Minor: War

Excellent historical fiction based a a real person. Strong female protagonist