Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas

44 reviews

jaydeecepticon's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Confinement, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexism

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Medical content, and Misogyny

c_phillips's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.75

Ending was a bit underwhelming compared to the build up in the plot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Self harm, Child abuse, Child death, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness

lottie1803's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, and Sexism

picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

Engaging but felt underdeveloped and a bit half-baked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Rape, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Dementia, Alcoholism, Grief, Classism, Blood, Child death, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

merle98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Grief, Incest, Self harm, Sexual violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Confinement, and Misogyny

kylajaynebooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This was such a ME book I adored it. A gothic woman’s asylum in Paris 1800s - and that’s all I’m going to say. This would be an INCREDIBLE autumn read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Body horror, Confinement, Self harm, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Rape, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

monsterre__'s review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-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

4.25

i read this in one sitting and it was honestly really great! it’s such an interesting topic, and i’ve never read a book like this before. i would definitely recommend it. the story made me pretty emotional, the last few pages had my eyes welling up with tears. 

one point of critique id like to add is this book would have benefitted from being longer. there was so much that was worth exploring, that wasn’t touched. for example other patients, more detail of what happened after the ball (esp w louise!) and the discoveries of the doctor.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Sexism, Medical content, and Rape

tinybluepixel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Ableism, Body horror, Medical trauma, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, and Suicide attempt

mattiedancer's review against another edition

informative tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Writing: 3.25⭐️/5 

The writing, while insightful in many sections, focuses mostly on telling rather than showing. For many passages, the passage directly stated Mas’ thesis, pushing forward a firm theme rather than allowing the reader to come to conclusions on their own. This did make the book extremely accessible and a much quicker read.

Characters: 3⭐️/5

The characters felt real enough, and yet also rather flat in comparison to the content matter. Where I hoped to find depth, I was met with surface-level characters who occasionally displayed features that dipped below the surface. That being said, the characters were relatively intriguing and, since the story was short, they kept interest for the course of the novel. 

Plot: 3⭐️/5 

The concept of the plot is incredibly interesting but the execution fell a bit flat. While still enjoyable and interesting, both the main plot and the side plots left me wanting more.

Who Should Read This Book? 

• Those looking for an introduction to historical fiction
• Those wanting to learn more about Salpêtrière

Content Warnings? 

• Misogyny, sexism, classism, death of a parent, death, illness, toxic relationships, toxic friendships, 

Post-Reading Rating:  2.75⭐️/5

Left me wanting more.

Final Rating: 3.0⭐️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Sexual content, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Drug use, Rape, Violence, and Vomit