Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

34 reviews

em_n_ay's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.5

This book was so much better than I was expecting! Tense, emotional, and surprisingly endearing. The main character was wonderful to get to know, and the main cast felt so alive. One of my favorite books this year and I can’t wait to read the next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death

Moderate: Rape, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Fatphobia

kirareads02's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.75

This was a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty. It was funny in places and heartbreaking in others. The language made it seem so real and the characters were so rich and complex. 

A lovely story and I can't wait to read the second book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Slavery, Death of parent, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, and Trafficking

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Gore, Abortion, and Blood

Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, and Medical content

issyfrp99's review against another edition

challenging 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicide, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent and Abortion

amandasbookreview's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

 

Thank you, Elodie Harper, NetGalley, and Union Square & Co. for the opportunity to read this book!

“Either we choose to stay alive, or we give up. And if it’s living we choose, then we do whatever it takes.”

THE WOLF DEN

I spent the past three days reading The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper. I have wanted to read it sooner but work has kept me from diving in. I am so glad I finally found time to read this book. It took me back to Pompeii in 74 CE. Amara was once a physician’s daughter. But after his death, the debts were high and she was sold as a slave and now is forced to work as a prostitute at one of Pompeii’s most infamous brothels. Survival is their focus and Amara is determined to one day be free. She will use her wit and allure to free herself and support the women around her.

But first. Trigger Warnings: slavery, abuse, sexual assault, rape, child loss, miscarriage, suicide

This is NOT an easy book to read and it is not meant for everyone. Years ago, I went to the natural history museum that had a Pompeii exhibit on display. They displayed the casts of the victims who were killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. They also showed some fresco paintings from the Lupanar. So it was fascinating to read about this history that took place almost 2,000 years ago. The author does a fantastic job at bringing these fictional characters to life and making them feel real. The characters all come from different backgrounds and have been forced into horrors that many cannot even imagine. They all have different reactions to these horrors. Some give up, some fight, some push their emotions away… but all their feelings are valid, no matter how different. It shows that there are many ways to react to trauma.

I cannot wait to see what is in store for Amara in the next book. Her world is changing and will no doubt find a way to fight her way to a freedwoman with independence. She has already met some historical figures such as Pliny the Elder. Another interesting thing is that the fatal eruption is only 5 years away. So there is still so much historical content to be explored. In a time where women are considered to be chattel, it is inspiring to watch them come up with their own ways to survive and support each other. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Kidnapping, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Grief

alicesloan's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is really engaging from the beginning, you quickly get attached to the characters and care about them. It is also quite fast paced and you never get board. This book also has interesting factual information in parts about the history of women in Pompeii and it does such a good job of helping you understand what it was like for them: their daily life's, how they dealt with problems, their mental states. I loves this book and would recommend it to people who like historical fiction, however i think everyone would enjoy it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicide, Abortion, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death of parent and Child abuse

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Cursing, Murder, Grief, Child abuse, Slavery, Rape, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Violence, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Trafficking, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Vomit, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Abortion

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

lucyselim's review against another edition

dark emotional informative 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, and Trafficking

Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence

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

readsbyhope's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Slavery

Moderate: Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent, Child death, and Death