Reviews tagging 'Child death'

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

4 reviews

meghanm404's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Medical content

Minor: Blood, Child death, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Alcohol

bookish_kori's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

3.5

Loved the book! Bridgerton has become my go to “escape the world for a bit” romance series and it definitely works for that! I’ve gotten a little frustrated that all the Bridgerton sisters (and female love interests with the exception of Penelope so far… sorry Kate) seem to assume the same personality once it’s their turn to be the main character. They all have different personalities within the family dynamics and it just would’ve been cool to see a lot of those play out more in their interactions away from their family. Same with the Bridgerton men, all originally having different personalities but turning fierce and slightly aggressive when it’s their turn to be the POV character. 

Not a reason at all to skip the series, in fact I’d still recommend it, just be prepared/trigger-warned for some Womanizer Lite behavior from the men and some personality shifts from all characters book-to-book. Seems to be smoothed over well in the show so far :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Gaslighting, Child death, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Blood and Terminal illness

Male behavior towards their partners throughout the series is aggressive bordering on coercion/non-consent at times in intimate scenes before basically yelling “DO YOU CONSENT?” to which the woman agrees. This book had some straight up coercion

(out of wedlock that could ruin the woman and not the man)

that I would NOT consider “clear and enthusiastic” consent despite Francesca agreeing/participating later on. And he is NOT admonished for it. Francesca seems to be the one criticized by the book for being hesitant. This coercion happens with

Sophia and Benedict

in their book too. I understand the timing for the books release is far earlier than the show, but still it gave me the ick. Most of the women are painfully and weirdly portrayed as innocent and uninformed with regards to steamy scenes (even in this book when she had been married before) and the men get off on that. Women are 99.9% of the time enthusiastic participants but completely uniformed (or in this book, she’s informed but “it was never like this” with her first husband so she has to relearn everything a new way). Despite their lack of knowledge, which I guess makes sense given the period it’s set (*cough cough* EVERY single male character is considered super experienced and not shamed for it in the slightest), the women ALL suddenly and randomly become “temptresses” who take control of the situation. Books praise the men as being exemplary because they care about the pleasure of their partners and not just themselves and appreciate the woman taking control. LOW BAR. Idk it’s just happened enough by now that I feel the need to comment on it all. It’s weird. So TW sexual coercion and sexual exploitation I guess. Though some of the women do it too.

ameliaferg's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

Best of the Bridgerton books so far. It was so refreshing to come away from the innocent, naive female main characters of the other books. This book lived up to its name and I really enjoyed it. It was also much better in terms of consent compared to the other books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Child death

Moderate: Grief

ashesmann's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

 Some spoiler-ish things ahead. I knew it was unlikely I would enjoy this book. The thought of my husband dying suddenly strikes terror to my heart and I could never recover enough to find love again. I don't judge those who can, I just can't connect with that. So it was going to be a challenge anyway. But that was just the start of it.

It was sad enough when John died, but when Francesca also lost her baby it was so frustrating. Especially because for almost the entire rest of the book the child is hardly mentioned. I was disgusted by Michael's complete inability to comfort the woman he claimed to love. There is no right thing to say in that situation, but showing up is important. He not only didn't show, he ran. I don't think I ever forgave him for that. It's beyond cruel. If I was to tell the story I would have had Francesca not lose the baby, but for it to be a girl. So the Earldom did pass to Michael, but he'd stay and help with the child.
I also found Michael to be quite cruel in other ways. He grabs her shoulders roughly. Moments later Francesca tells herself he'd never hurt her, he'd die for her. I hate when characters behave that way. He did hurt you.
And then Michael chases Francesca all the way to Scotland to tell her there was going to be a wedding in her family, her brother was getting married. Instead of going back to town to assist in preparations Francesca waits. For weeks. And during that time she missed not only her brother's wedding, but also her sister. And she has the nerve to be mad about it.
I also hated how Francesca's acceptance of Michael's proposal came about. He kicks her out of his house. Her home of six years, in the night, while it's raining. He tells her to get out of the house and she does. She goes out into the rain and returns 3 hours later saying she will marry him after all. I guess it was either that or die.
I also found it distasteful how they kept comparing how they were together to her her time with John. It's not a competition, and he's dead besides.

At the the end of it I guess my distaste comes from the fact Michael claims to be in love but he doesn't in any way act like it. I honestly can't think of a single time he truly showed genuine love. Also, this may be the raciest of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship