Reviews tagging 'War'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

41 reviews

louisekf's review

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Abortion and War

booksense's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

immovabletype's review

emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and War

Minor: Vomit

zoerezek's review

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

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Rape

Minor: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War

hrh_victoria's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This book had some elements of murder mystery, but it is more a combo of historical fiction and legal thriller. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a book in this genre, but I LOVED this one. A poignant and satisfactory conclusion. The representation of early American midwifery was a cherry on top.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Racism, Violence, Abortion, and War

bookishashleymn's review

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Murder

Minor: War

sarahbiegelsen's review

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Genocide, Infidelity, Slavery, Kidnapping, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This is probably my favorite historical fiction work. Martha is formidable, compassionate, principled, and empowered. She goes head to head with an evil ogre and serial rapist, and humiliates him over and over again. There was a lot of drama and action and plenty to mourn and celebrate.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

lexcellent's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Incest

emilyreadthatbook's review against another edition

challenging mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Taking place in the late 1700s, we are quickly brought into the outcome of rape, a murder, and the ongoing births and deaths in the everyday life of a midwife. Martha Ballard, based on a real midwife at that time, is whose eyes we experience this story through, and what a story it is. I was left guessing about who was involved with what and the whys throughout this tale.
Ariel Lanhon weaves an engaging, and at times, heartbreaking story of a time in Martha’s life. The descriptions used, draw you into the long cold winter in a town along a frozen river. So many books I tear through so I can get all the information, this book coaxed me to slowdown and really savor the experience.   I greatly enjoyed this book, as unsettling as many of the topics are. I feel the author handled the difficult content with care. I am curious to explore more from this author.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Violence and War