Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

86 reviews

johannasteina's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Abortion

liteartha's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

centred on the lives of amara and the other women enslaved at a brothel in pompeii, the wolf den is a heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and deeply human story. brilliant historical fiction, incredibly well grounded in its pompeian setting despite its very approachable modern style

i was particularly struck by the complexity of the characters' relationships, be it within the power structures of their surroundings or interpersonally. the relationships between the women especially were portrayed with such nuance and depth, which i loved, but i would have appreciated a little more exploration of the characters themselves. while i understand why we didn't get a wealth of background for much of anyone, it still left me feeling less invested than i otherwise would've been

on the whole, such an impressive start to a trilogy. i had very high hopes for this book and while it wasn't quite all that i'd hoped, i'm walking away satisfied and very excited to continue on with the series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Death

Minor: Abortion

banlocan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

While the subject matter of the book makes it anything but a light read, Harper guides the reader through an unforgiving world so often overlooked or silenced. If you are looking for a slow burn read that will completely wreck you by the end then this is what you want to add to your tbr. Wonderful world building without feeling like it was an info dump the world of ancient Pompeii and the Wolfs Den come to life in a way that is obtainable and visceral. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery

Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

alice_clay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, Child death, Colonisation, Fatphobia, Grief, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Suicide

bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition

3.25

Headlines:
Traumatic narrative
Raw life in a brothel in 79AD
Men with power

I didn't expect to be rating as high as 3.5 stars to be honest but the characters weedled their way into my psyche and I found it harder and harder to put the book down. Do not be mistaken, this is a difficult book to read. I am putting triggers warnings at the bottom of this review because the narrative is overtly abusive and not for the faint of heart.

The MC Amara was a kidnapped Grecian young woman, sold into sex slavery and living in a brothel in Pompeii (yes, I too wonder where the volcano might feature). The cast of characters in this story were difficult to like, even the MC and some of the other enslaved women. They weren't endearing but can you blame them? No. However, I did grow to become invested in their lives. Amara did have some surprising character development.

The cast of men are quite frankly almost completely vile; none more than Felix. There were some men who gave the women compassion or chances but it was often for a price or to gain something. Life in Pompeii was rough, dangerous and male-centric. Men had all the power and women had none to very little. You could never call this a feminist read because the women were afforded nothing; they were surviving.

I'm glad I read this despite my difficulty with the trauma in the first half. I'll definitely be reading on in the trilogy and I'm really glad this was a buddy read so that we could fume and discuss together.

*TW - rape, sexual assault, abortion, suicide, physical abuse, sex trafficking*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, and Child death

abbyreadsandwrites's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Suicide

Moderate: Abortion

frumpkin_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Suicide

miamcmillan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.75

very good quick read, i loved all the female characters so much and the sense of pompeii was extremely vivid. a little bit vague plot-wise sometimes and  the relationship between amara and menander felt a little bit rushed, but overall i really liked it! it was also a very solid move to make the more overlooked members of roman society more visible, very carefully done. and i really appreciated that the author didn’t make certain scenes intensely graphic as many other books tend to. very excited for the sequels! (also i hope felix suffers intensely in the next book. just saying) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Rape

Moderate: Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

loongbooy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Cursing and Death of parent