Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

100 reviews

wordsthatsing's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

Wow. Incredible writing, incredible story. The characters are so well developed and visceral, the setting and scenes so vivid and atmospheric. Martha Ballard is one of my favorite characters I've ever read about (and a very real pioneer of her time as a midwife in the 1700s); her strength, her softness, her love for family and her patients and neighbors, her unwavering commitment to justice. This will be on my list of favorite books of all time, and with this being my first Lawhon book, I can't wait to go back and read her backlist. Martha Ballard will stay with me for a very long time, and when a book leaves that kind of lasting impression on you? That's the best kind of reward as a reader.

Note: there are many trigger warnings in this book and I recommend looking them up beforehand if you're a sensitive reader. I am a somewhat sensitive reader, but I will say that the difficult parts in no way affected my enjoyment of the book, and with Lawhon's deft storytelling, only enhanced the reading experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

anninerie's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, Violence, and Pregnancy

jobradley's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• 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

4.75

Somewhat sad & tense but satisfying at the end. A bit of a mystery as well. Loved the perspective of a late 1700s forward-thinking midwife. Very strong female characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Murder

jspelman14's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

emmelly's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder

celery's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

juanat77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sshinesea's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Murder

lillypad827's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious slow-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

3.75

I’d never heard of Martha Ballard before this book, but it’s so fascinating to me that we have historical records of people who lived so many centuries ago. This was an intricate historical fiction story. Slow-paced and LOTS of characters to keep track of, but kept my interest. My favorite part was when

Martha sliced off North’s dick.

JUSTICE! Overall, a good read, and I might check out some of the author’s other works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, and Pregnancy

sjmomaney's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death