Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

70 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

---

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

laurak483's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Upon finishing this book, I had a lot of conflicting emotions. This book is another reminder of both how far we have come in terms of equality and the treatment of women, while simultaneously having barely progressed at all. This was not an easy read, particularly as a survivor of SA; I definitely underestimated how SA and the R word would occur and be discussed. Although it almost never actually happened on the page which I think is what made me able to keep reading it and not have to DNF the book. 

It's a powerful story about the female experience, the inherent dangers of living as a woman or marginalized person in general, and how the cycle of abuse perpetuates itself. I really feel like intense acts that happened in the final chapters were set up purely to turn this from a standalone novel into the trilogy the author wanted, and I personally think that's a mistake. I think this book was so heavy so much of the time, I would personally have enjoyed it more if we got the more uplifting part of the ending we as readers were hoping for without the violent events that will clearly be the focus of the next book (trying to talk about it without spoilers). 

For the first time in a long time, I think this is a series I won't be continuing. Not because it isn't well written, I enjoyed the author's writing style. Just because it is a rather hard read, and I am honestly not invested enough in seeing more of these characters for the apparent plot point the next book(s) will tackle. The biggest strength this book has, and the thing that really was apparent and stuck out to me the most, is it's also an ode to the resilience of women. Between reading this book and listening to the song "Labour" by Paris Paloma on repeat, I am overly filled with ancestral feminine rage and I definitely need a palette cleanser after this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy

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. 

---

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

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Slavery

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

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

caelfind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Trafficking, Sexism, Slavery, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Bullying, Violence, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Pregnancy, Death, and Child abuse

cheyenne7's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Trafficking, and Violence

akswhy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring tense 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? Yes

4.5

Vivid and unflinching, this is the truest and most visceral depiction of ancient Pompeii that I have ever read. And it has nothing to do with Vesuvius! The characters are unique and intentional, the setting is perfectly described, and the villains are terrifying most of all for their believability. A fabulous book. I finished this book in the wee hours of the morning and immediately ordered the next two in the trilogy.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexism, Rape, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Alcohol, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Abortion

Minor: Vomit, Addiction, and Alcoholism