Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

32 reviews

kylajaynebooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and War

dilani's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.0

A very emotional, tough journey as we follow four young refugees trying to escape the chaos and destruction of WWII. I found myself connecting to the characters, especially the shoe poet (a.k.a. Opi), Joana, and Emilia. I was rooting for them the whole way through, except for Alfred. He was sad and pathetic excuse of a man. But besides that, I wanted everyone else to find some peace and solace. 

I appreciate how Ruth Sepetys did some in-depth research into the real tragedies that this book is based upon. The interviews with people involved at that time was a nice touch. Sepetys sheds light to a WWII tragedy most have never heard of. And she does a damn good job of it. 

“When the survivors are gone we must not let the truth disappear with them. Please give them a voice.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

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: Death, Medical content, and War

Moderate: Gore, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape and Antisemitism

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, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Vomit, and Medical trauma

juliamb's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

erinlikesstories's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pregnancy

cammiem8's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

While it took a while to get into and I really dislike multiple POVs, the third act had me on the edge of my seat and before I knew it, I’d read 150 pages and finished it before bed. I respect the author for experimenting with form, but I much prefer the writing style of Between Shades of Gray. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia, Torture, and Vomit

Depicts WW2 and Nazism realistically, so expect all the violence and bigotry that goes along with that.

A main character reveals that her pregnancy is the result of a rape by Soviet soldiers, a woman she lived with allowed the rape to happen.

julia1579e's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

literally heart wrenching. i cant believe i didn't know about this disaster before i read this book.

alfred was beyond awful and an actual psychopath omg i'm glad he died

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture and Vomit

kalin_grace's review against another edition

challenging sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sarahquang's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, and War

Moderate: Child death, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment