Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

20 reviews

sugarloaf's review against another edition

4.0

I wasn't in the mood for this book when I started reading it, but by page 50 I'd changed my tune. Of course it is a little eccentric and some of the sensibilities and language is on the modern side, but that's the kind of book this is. 

I didn't entirely click with Augusta as the protagonist, who was just a tad too unlikely and stereotypical for me to suspend my disbelief, but I certainly enjoyed the many side characters in this book, particularly Lord Evan, and I liked the relationship between Julia and Augusta. It was a very good portrayal of two people who are quite different to each other, but their bond and willingness to fight for the other strengthens both of them. 

The plot was good fun. I liked that Augusta and Julia were definitely amateurs and went into things with half formed plans or without having accounted for most scenarios; it was very realistic for their station and added to the hijinks and stakes. It also gets into the dark underbelly of regency England with domestic abuse, child sex trafficking and "madhouses" and the torture within them all examined. It did a good job balancing the horror and gravitas with the humour. 

We are clearly set up for another book and I hope Goodman delivers. Also, side note, this is the same author that wrote Eon and Eona? I don't remember much of them except enjoying them a lot, but they're very different books to this. Goodman clearly has range.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Medical content, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Cancer

rhi_'s review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gore, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Blood, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Cancer, Murder, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Death, and Eating disorder

Minor: Vomit, Pedophilia, Mental illness, and Deportation

rlse's review against another edition

dark hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Domestic abuse

katiescott's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

bel017's review against another edition

 Some very dark history covered, but otherwise a heap of fun. The main character and supporting cast are fabulous. I loved the found family, competent protagonists, hiding in plain sight, and heaving doses of usurping the hierarchy, wrapped up in a slightly mad and fast paced adventure. I do love a good shenanigan. Can't wait for the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny

Moderate: Cancer, Classism, Rape, and Torture

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious 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

4.5

I loved this book from beginning to end but I confess that if I hadn’t had to read it for a book group, I’d never have picked it because it looks and sounds like it’s a lightweight “cozy mystery,” the last thing I’d normally choose. This has lots of humor and it’s quite entertaining but it’s about as far from cozy as you can get. Vivid descriptions of truly appalling situations abound. 

This is a feminist tirade against the abuse of women in the 18th and 19th Centuries, and nothing about it is gentle. I am not one to cry at books but I had tears in my eyes reading about the conditions at the private insane asylum - women chained half-naked in feces up to their ankles is just one example of the many cruelties and injustices. 

The author has done copious research on the Regency period of England (1811-1820), and it tells in the detail she brings to the story. This would be a good companion to Jane Austen’s books and the somewhat later ones of the Bronte’s. They focused on polite society whereas this book shows a part of England they may not have known existed. 

Unfortunately for me, this book was only just published so I’ll have to wait all too long for the sequel. I know it will be well worth the wait, but still….

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Cancer, Deportation, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Incest

alyssajp's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

Adventurous. Action. Feminist. Sisterhood. A bit of romance. Tackles some heavy topics including breast cancer, faith, confinement, graphic neglect/abuse; not a "light-hearted" read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Medical content, Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, Cancer, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Classism

Minor: Rape

italapas's review against another edition

Well written and engaging but the content warnings are to be taken seriously. I stopped reading it because I was unwell and my library took the ebook back before I could finish. I don't know that I will seek it out again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Cancer, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Domestic abuse

alhalpern's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Incest, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Kidnapping, Suicide, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Confinement, Slavery, Suicide, Medical trauma, Violence, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Vomit, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, and Terminal illness

Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, Racism, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Incest