Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - The Marriage Portrait

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

45 reviews

musicalpopcorn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

When Lucrezia is married to Alfonso II of Ferrara at the age of fifteen, she is taken from the only life she knows and thrown into one she will not survive.

This book was lurid and imaginative. It kept me hooked from the very beginning. Lucrezia was a fantastic main character who is stuck questioning herself and her husband bit by bit until the end. She is the kind of main character that people love in historical fiction.

The only reason I’m not giving this book five stars is because they did Emilia dirty.

Content Warnings

madamelacy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

_kellye's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

abbasaurusrex's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This was close to five stars for me. It was definitely not an upbeat story but the writing was gorgeous (I didn’t think it was overdone as some other reviewers have suggested) and the tension was exquisite. I loved the twist at the end as a hopeful resolution to what was otherwise a very dark story. There are some difficult themes here so read the trigger warnings. Overall I really enjoyed this one.

Content Warnings

annaka's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

3.75

I found this book to be a bit longer than (I thought) it needed to be. The descriptions are good but a lot of the detail felt unnecessary to me. I could have read a shorter version and enjoyed it more with a focus on the mystery presented in the initial chapter and not all of the detailed descriptions and side stories. It gives a good illustration of the challenges of the cycle of violence, such as a typically charming man who looks completely different during moments of violence and the victim feeling that perhaps she is wrong. I liked the ending and didn't see the twist coming until close to the reveal. I also didn't like some of what the ending implied about the main character but will avoid spoilers about that. Overall, a talented writer and a good read, but not one that will be a reread or favorite for me personally.

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balfies's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad 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? Yes

3.0

Wanted to read some of the shortlist for the women's prize for fiction. This historic novel about the marriage and murder of the 16th century Duchess of Ferrara was quietly absorbing.

O'Farrell's ability to create depth within these unknowable women from history is a true skill. I found the ending slightly convoluted, but the depiction of Lucrezia's despair at her sexual duties was verisimilitudinous and evoked deep empathy.

Content Warnings