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danahuff's review
- 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
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
Minor: Blood, Colonisation, Gun violence, and Murder
armstam3's review
5.0
Graphic: Slavery, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
greatlibraryofalexandra's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Classism, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Vomit
d0505's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Slavery, and Racism
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Pregnancy and Rape
bringmybooks's review
- 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
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
While not shying away from any of the realities of the history (with the content warnings to match - it's beautiful, but hard to read at times), this novel still manages to uplift your soul with the way it allows you to be a part of Rachel's journey. I'm not a mother myself, but I commend Eleanor Shearer on her ability to make you feel so connected to things that you have never had to experience. Rachel's love for her children, the way she remembers them, the way she yearns for them, the way she feels guilt and love and frustration and joy and deepest heartache; you are intimately involved in these feelings with her and it made the book very strong.
The history of slavery (&especially the Emancipation Act of 1834 and how that affected those enslaved in the Caribbean) was completely unknown to me, and I thought Shearer did a really good job adding a lot of factual information in a way that felt woven throughout the story as opposed to info-dumping it.
I was especially moved with the way water and the rivers played an integral role in the story, and the complicated nature of how Rachel and those around her felt about them.
This was an emotionally resounding novel that will definitely be one I find myself recommending.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
bedtimesandbooks's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Slavery, Miscarriage, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Suicide, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Blood, and Physical abuse
themomwithabook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Slavery and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage
bayleereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Grief
captainroz's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Murder
kerrygetsliterary's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Physical abuse, Violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Child death, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape