Reviews tagging 'War'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

46 reviews

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

himpersonal'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 she humiliates him over and over again. There was a lot of drama and action and plenty to mourn and plenty to 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

elisestewart's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Child death, Violence, and War

ashylibrarian's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

A strong historical fiction that tells the lost story of Martha Ballard, a midwife who delivered over 1,000 babies in her small town. 

Maybe a more in-depth review to come?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War

readandfindout's review

emotional medium-paced

4.25

Style/writing: 3.5 stars
Themes: 5 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion and War

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, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

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: Child death, Blood, and War