Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

101 reviews

heidi_fischer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Suicide, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Murder

Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Murder

brianneh's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Abortion, Bullying, Xenophobia, Child death, and Domestic abuse

secre's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

The Wolf Den is the tale of a doctor's daughter sold into slavery and eventual prostitution due to poverty and misfortune. It's stark, candid and uncompromising as it relays the realities of the lives these girls were forced into. It's also strangely hopeful, as Amara finds a way to use her brains to find a way out of the perilous and dangerous position life has left her in. It's a powerful and evocative read, a tale of both survival against the odds and those who weren't so lucky.

It is without a doubt an uncomfortable read. The author doesn't shy away from the grim realities of being a sex slave in early Pompeii. The 'she-wolves' have little freedom and certainly no ability to pick and choose their 'customers'. The risks of disease and pregnancy are high. And yet Harper writes them well as a close group despite the jealousies and rivalries between them. There is a genuine bond between the girls. Whilst the narrative follows Amara primarily, the other girls are just as fully dimensional and well realised.

The world of ancient Pompeii is just as vividly imagined, coming to life around you, from the descriptions of daily life to important festivals and all the men and women Amara comes across for good or for bad. The narrative moves slowly, allowing the reader to fully invest in the characters and the life they live, but twists and turns in unexpected directions, forever keeping you on your toes. I'm intrigued to see where it goes next, particularly as it's set only five years before the devastating Pompeii volcanic eruption that obliterated life in the region.

All in all, an excellent read and one that will stay with me for some time to come.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Slavery

Moderate: Abortion

kmami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

one of the best books i’ve read so far this year. the plot is perfectly thought out. the story was perfectly written. i really couldn’t put it down; i finished it in 24 hours. i can’t wait to read the second book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Misogyny, Trafficking, and Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Murder, Abandonment, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, and Torture

emmyh_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Violence and Abortion

fergus30's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Slavery

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

ginnyb412's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.5

an objectively well-written book, but it just didn't grab my attention. i liked how the author wrote the women, how even the 'good' characters acted morally gray just to survive. beyond that, though, i wasn't super interested in the story and don't think i'll be motivated to pick up the sequels anytime soon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, and Suicide

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Pedophilia

lindsaystenico8821's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

From a historical stand point, it's great and does a wonderful job exploring what life was like for women working in a brothel in 74 CE Pompeii. But overall, the story was okay. There was nothing bad, but it didn't move me either or felt like series that I have and need to continue reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Rape, Murder, Abortion, Death, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy and Fire/Fire injury

catell's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Blood, Suicide, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Sexism, Infidelity, Grief, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Rape, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

libkatem's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Abortion, Violence, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Suicide