Reviews tagging 'Torture'

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon

20 reviews

another_dahlia's review

dark funny informative medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Sexism, Murder, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Rape, Domestic abuse, Racism, Slavery, War, Animal cruelty, and Classism

tlholmes's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Torture, Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Misogyny

Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty

nassuada's review

dark emotional funny informative sad slow-paced

4.5

A really interesting read, particularly when the author covers how the life of women, enslaved people, and children were regarded in Rome. Her writing style really elevates the content and it reminded me of a true crime podcast (but one of the good ones where they actually respect the lives of the victims and don't just use them for entertainment value). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Misogyny, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Classism, Death of parent, Slavery, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: War, Rape, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide, Child abuse, and Abortion

panireads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

3.0

Maybe I am not the target audience for this book, but as I like reading history , especially classic history I expected to like it a lot. I was put off by the language used, and the ( an in my opinion unneccesary ) constant pop culture references.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, and Violence

simixfe's review

dark emotional funny informative medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death, Blood, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, Child death, Torture, and Slavery

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Antisemitism, and Animal cruelty

shelfofunread's review against another edition

dark funny informative fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Suicide, and Murder

anneshamitha's review

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

4.75

I really liked this book. I love how it grounded Rome in the slave state that it was, and never lost sight of that. I also appreciated how she walked us through her sources, including those that conflict, instead of presenting a singular narrative as fact. Unfortunately, she tries way too hard to be cool. This almost turned me off entirely, but because the actual substance of the book was so good it kind of felt like rolling your eyes at a professor who tries to be too hip, but that you like anyway because you’re actually learning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Rape, War, Violence, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Classism, and Child death

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Genocide

j_squaredd's review against another edition

dark funny informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Murder, and Slavery

jhoiraartificer's review

informative medium-paced

4.5

This book reads like the best of Academic Tumblr and the Toast, and I mean that in a highly complimentary way. Clearly the author knows their stuff, and also knows how to make it very engaging.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

vicious's review

dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I was super excited for this book having read and thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Southon's Agrippina book a few months ago, and I was not disappointed. Southon writes as if she were sitting across from you in a bar, telling you about Roman history over a few beers and some greasy fries. Her writing is engaging, fun, and interesting. I've never been one for Roman history, but she ignites an interest inside of me purely because she makes learning about it so fun.

This book is about the complicated definition of murder from a Roman standpoint, comparing it to a modern viewpoint to realistically put into perspective just how different today's world culture is from that of ancient Rome. It's very fascinating. If you're into true crime and/or Roman history, you will love it. If you, like me, are not into either, you may still take a liking to it as I have. If only all history books were written in such a fun and engaging manner maybe more people would be interested in history as a whole.

There are some hefty trigger warnings to take into account with this book as it does detail some brutal and gory deaths. Also, definitely keep a placeholder on the footnotes; they can be a joy to read and often provide additional information.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Slavery, and Suicide

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Incest, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, and Pedophilia