Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

91 reviews

burnourhistory's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Slavery, Trafficking, Suicide, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Abortion, and Alcoholism

inhisbluegardens's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.5

This didn't have quite as much going on as I wanted it to. Set in the lupanar of Pompeii, the story follows Amara, a doctor's daughter from Greece who is now enslaved as a prostitute. The strength of the story is in how Harper depicts the relationships between  the women in the Wolf Den and is really an ode to female friendship and sisterhood. She doesn't shy away from the brutality of these women's lives, whilst a thread of hopefulness still runs through it. Harper does a grand job of illustrating the collective trauma of historical women.

However, whilst this is absolutely a character-driven novel, I still think the plot felt a little aimless and I didn't really get a clear image of Pompeii as the setting, except upon the singular mention of Vesuvius right near the end. So, not bad overall but I don't know if it really gripped me enough to continue with the trilogy.

PS. check trigger warnings for this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Abortion, Violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment

alexared's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Xenophobia, Colonisation, Classism, Death, Violence, and Trafficking

Minor: Pregnancy and Abortion

fe_aye's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is a great insight to the life of slaves in Pompeii and the friendships of women in those times. The characters are wonderful and real and every single one is complex with their own independent things going on and following each of them throughout this story was amazing to see. I loved the relationships and the characters and the way they interacted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Cursing, Vomit, Murder, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Sexual violence, Death, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, Classism, Alcohol, Confinement, and Death of parent

meg_sc's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-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? No

4.5

The ending of this book had me reeling. I was a bit cautious about reading historical fiction from an era that I know so much about, but I thought this book did it brilliantly. Harper does a wonderful job of humanising the often overlooked enslaved people of the Roman world, and I feel like this book is paced so well. 
Definitely one to heed the warnings for if you're sensitive to the themes of the book, but if you're thinking about picking it up I recommend it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief, Death, Trafficking, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Xenophobia, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Abortion

etherisapoet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This book made so unnecessarily emotional
I loved it, it made me feel the pain, relief and insecurity of the characters 
I somehow could get a feel of what being a prostitute at that time was
It was a tale of womanhood and love both platonic and romantic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Slavery, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

racheleanne06's review

dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

Pompeii comes to life in this harrowing tale of slavery and womanhood in AD 74. It’s a about love, friendship and doing what it takes to survive in this harsh unforgiving world.

I visited Pompeii last summer and every piece of what I saw there came to life in this book. From the food, and people, to the ancient celebrations and the cultures, you feel like you are there, in the city with the Wolf Den girls back in AD 74.

The plot is very character focused, but you really care for Amara and the other girls despite their flaws, and this world they are inhabiting is so full of terror and horrors that you can’t help but plead with the gods and goddesses that they survive the ordeals they are subjected to. 

If you enjoy historical fiction and learning about the ancient worlds, then this book is for you. Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Philippa Gregory. Just don’t expect perfect happy endings.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Abortion, and Death

Minor: Vomit

m_a_r_i_a_m's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Slavery, and Suicide

Moderate: Abandonment, Sexism, Pregnancy, Rape, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Abortion, and Sexual content

Minor: Body shaming

katymat18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Grief, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide and Death

Minor: Pregnancy and Murder

erinreadsfantasy's review against another edition

dark sad tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Death, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and Abortion