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jess_d84's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Told from Ballard's POV the book is part historical fiction, part murder mystery, part women's literature.
Lawhon has a delicate, yet practical way with words. One that had me at once nodding and wondering why I'd never thought of "the stuff of life" in that way before.
This is my first by Ariel Lawhon, but certainly won't be my last!
Moderate: Sexism, Rape, Medical content, and Misogyny
Minor: Child death, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, and War
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A major content warning, for any potential readers: the descriptions of rape and attempted rape and assault on a woman is a lot, and detailed. Just, be aware. And on that note, oooof the rhetoric of “would you ruin the life of a respected man, a judge/colonel/insert whatever title, on the word of a woman?” is too familiar and just enraging. And what a highlight of the unevenness of justice (weighted so much in the favor of powerful men) that has always prevailed and been a cornerstone of American history and present day. How are we not further past that kind of BS??
Graphic: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Moderate: Medical content, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Child death
madsmcw_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First off, Martha is as fierce of a woman as you can come by and the fact that she never lost a single mother in all of her years as practice is incredible. That aside, this is a twisty read that keeps you engaged. As infuriating as it was I thought the court system of the time was I thought the "justice" system of the time was portrayed really well. While it was a little graphic I felt it was fitting how Joseph North finally paid for his wrongs.
One thing I didn't like is that there did feel like there was a lot of fluff that didn't really help you figure out what was going on in the various conflicts. And there were a couple of different things that I didn't totally get. Overall I'm glad I read this and still want to read the books on her backlist!
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Medical content, and Pregnancy
celery's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Ableism, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Medical content, Animal death, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Rape, War, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content
juanat77's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Vomit, Cursing, Grief, Sexism, Sexual content, Bullying, Medical content, Miscarriage, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
lillypad827's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual assault, Rape, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Violence
okapi_lover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Overall, I liked the book, but I found it forgettable. It isn't one that will stay with me.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical content, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Infertility
stephs_cozycorner's review against another edition
4.0
Inspired by Ballard’s life taken from the words right out of her own journals this story is based 75% on fact.
Lawhon writes in her author’s note how this story came to be, and I loved learning that a good majority of the characters in this book are based on actual people and not just Ballard.
So don’t skip reading it!!
I also absolutely adored Martha’s husband Ephraim and their love story, which you get glimpses of throughout as well as in flashback chapters. I loved how much he respected her and treated her as his equal.
This is a time period that I don’t often read about, but one I definitely want to delve more into.
Martha Ballard was an incredible woman and a character I won’t soon forget.
I highly recommend picking up this book!
𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦, 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴.
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Sexism, and Rape
novellearts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Medical content, and Sexism
maria1085's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual assault, Death, Rape, Child death, Murder, and Blood