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ashylibrarian's review
- 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
4.25
Maybe a more in-depth review to come?
Graphic: Grief, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Child death, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War and Fire/Fire injury
readandfindout's review
4.25
Themes: 5 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Medical content, Blood, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, Rape, Child death, Murder, Colonisation, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Pregnancy, Violence, Death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion and War
mylxa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy and Rape
mysterymom40's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Pregnancy, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Sexism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Gore, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Classism and Sexual content
nicholems's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Rape
Minor: Abortion
kgc8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Though the book uses a murder to grab your attention, I honestly found the legal case more interesting because of how nascent the U.S. legal system was at the time (and I'm not even a lawyer!). The author's note at the end (don't read until you're done because there are spoilers) tells you you have to throw out all your preconceived notions about due process and the law before reading because it's so vastly different and primitive. Colonel Joseph North, despite not having studied law, was the judge in the area given his rank and deeds during the War. Not only that, he was able to preside over the case locally and didn't recuse himself in spite of the conflict of interest! (Don't worry, he gets scolded for that by the regional court).
If you enjoy history and immersing yourself in a different period, check out this book. I took off a star because I think the author dumbed a few things down for "modern" readers in her exposition and I loved the idea of Martha Ballard's story being told more than the author's writing style.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Pregnancy and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Blood, and Death
amanda_reads89's review
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: War, Violence, Sexism, and Racism
amandaviljanen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, and Rape
jess_d84's review
- 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
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!
Moderate: Sexism, Rape, Medical content, and Misogyny
Minor: Child death, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, and War
just_one_more_paige's review
- 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
4.0
A major content warning, for any potential readers: the descriptions of rape and attempted rape and assault on a woman is a lot, and detailed. Just, be aware. And on that note, oooof the rhetoric of “would you ruin the life of a respected man, a judge/colonel/insert whatever title, on the word of a woman?” is too familiar and just enraging. And what a highlight of the unevenness of justice (weighted so much in the favor of powerful men) that has always prevailed and been a cornerstone of American history and present day. How are we not further past that kind of BS??
Graphic: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Moderate: Medical content, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Child death