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ernis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
We follow the story of several female convicts from the UK as well as as an indigenous child from Australia who eventually cross paths. Although the story is fictional, the history it is based on is eye opening and disturbing. This novel gives a new appreciation for female rights, in modern times, in first world countries.
Graphic: Misogyny and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Abortion, Abandonment, and Excrement
Minor: Murder, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Abortion
jessica_artichoke's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Grief, Alcoholism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Drug use
gkm00's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Racial slurs, Death, Excrement, Medical content, Abandonment, Deportation, Rape, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Genocide, Grief, Addiction, Classism, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Alcohol, Confinement, Misogyny, Abortion, Alcoholism, Animal death, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Torture
hannahgjenson's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
I was wary of this book heading into it given that I typically am not a fan of historical fiction set before the 1920s ish. I can't really get over all the "ye's" and the truly brazen systemic subjugation of anyone who is not a white straight main. Not to say it's not accurate to the time period, but I don't find that those characteristics make an enjoyable read for me typically. However, learning about the convict transport system and the conditions specifically female prisoners were subjected to at the time kept me interested through the novel.
Hazel was probably my favorite character and is really the only main character who goes through a significant amount of growth, and I really enjoyed (and was heartbroken by at other times) her and Ruby's relationship. I found Mathinna's story really sad but also compelling; I can't even imagine the mental turmoil and confusion that she goes through as a result of the colonization of her people and subsequent confinement to the governor's house.
Graphic: Colonisation, Sexual assault, Rape, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Genocide
nimeneth's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Racism, Physical abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Deportation, Death, Confinement, Colonisation, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Classism, and Child death
cepbreed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
From the bottom of my heart, I love the overall message of this novel to pass kindness forward. A simple act of kindness can change someone's life entirely and there is so much beauty in that. Evangeline wasn't treated kindly (without underlying bad intentions) for a second when she was working as a governess yet she maintained her character and was able to aid both Olive and Hazel. They in turn passed that kindness forward and impacted the lives of others. Kindness is vital to the human condition, but one of my favorite moments in the story was someone refusing a kind offer.
Hazel became a quick favorite of mine once she was introduced. There are so many things about her character to love, but one facet of her backstory has been stuck in my brain. I love how the thing she stole, which resulted in her imprisonment and transportation, was literally a silver spoon. She was a child, shunned by her own mother, and the straw she was forced to grasp at was the exact concept of a comfortable and struggle-free life. She could've been happy, even in poverty, if her mother was loving, but instead, she got a woman who threw her into the streets both literally and metaphorically forcing her to vy for a silver spoon which could never be hers anyway.
Dr. Dunne really crept up on me as a character and I ended up loving him. Originally I was wary of him. Who could blame me? The poor protagonists were betrayed and wronged by so many people in their lives I was instinctually distrustful of the conveniently kind doctor, but I was pleasantly surprised to see myself be wrong. I LOVE that man!!!
Song:
- evermore - Taylor Swift
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Classism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Excrement, Child death, and Confinement
nmoji'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
4.5
Moderate: Child death, Vomit, and Death
Minor: Rape, Misogyny, and Abortion
baearles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Abortion, and Alcohol
sarahasyouwish's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Vomit, Sexism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault
nicoleta7'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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Xenophobia, Murder, Vomit, Torture, Slavery, Sexism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage