Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

98 reviews

mayukiiq's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

5.0

Absolutely gorgeous and absolutely devastating.

* reminiscent of All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr) in some ways

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, War, and Death

Moderate: Gore, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Minor: Antisemitism and Rape

itshrewsbury's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Probably one if the best historical fiction books I’ve read, and about a fairly unknown but heartbreaking tragedy. 

13+

TW/CW: war, death, racism/anti-semitism, rape

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Death

izwit's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Rape, Child death, Death of parent, War, Grief, Medical content, Death, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Blood

maria1085's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

“We the survivors are not the true witnesses. The true witnesses, those in possession of the unspeakable truth, are the drowned, the dead, the disappeared.” 

It always amazes me when I read historical fiction I learn something new. Salt to the Sea is based on the real sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in the Baltic Sea on January 30, 1945. This was the single greatest maritime disaster in history yet not many people know about it. As a history buff I like to think that I’ve learned a lot of history, but it just isn’t the case. The ship was overcrowded carrying 10,500 refugees and military personnel. Included were 5,000 children. When it was struck by three torpedoes from a Russian submarine it began to sink. It was a tragedy that took so many lives. 

This hauntingly beautiful story follows four characters who become connected as they make their way to the port to escape the advancing Red Army. This novel was well researched and so well written. It’s YA, but it didn’t feel that way when I was reading it. This is my first book by Rutya Septys and it won’t be my last. She is such a prolific writer, each story was so heartbreaking but the way she connected the characters at a human level gives the reader hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Vomit, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical trauma, and Rape

smartens's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative fast-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Homophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Sexual assault, and War

emmaopaline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Rape

kallio08's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Blood, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Violence, War, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Animal death, and Death of parent

kateelissa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and War

Moderate: Rape

julieclair's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Un-put-downable historical fiction, about the evacuation of German citizens as the Russians invaded German-occupied East Prussia towards the end of World War II. Told from 4 points of view, in short alternating chapters. Rich character development, fascinating story line, and heart-wrenching, realistic details about the horrors encountered by the refugees trying to flee. Human goodness and human cruelty, courage and cowardice, are all displayed. Well researched. This one will stay with me a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

jebowman123's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

This wasn’t my favorite Ruta Sepetys. I found the perspective of Alfred to be very off putting, but I think the pace was great and the content was solid. Overall, the elements included were extremely unique and it’s definitely worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Pregnancy and Rape