Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Maldición by Jenni Fagan

22 reviews

creatureof_nature's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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? N/A

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and Physical abuse

booksjessreads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Admittedly when first reading this, I did not quite understand what was happening, but then around 2-3 chapters in, I just felt completely immersed in this story. You can really feel the authors rage, whilst simultaneously having characters that are written tenderly and so beautifully. It is a wonderful ode to Geillis Duncan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Murder, Sexism, and Misogyny

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, and Misogyny

Moderate: Confinement, Police brutality, and Physical abuse

carlyalynnsia's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

Moderate: Rape and Murder

charnewb's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Death, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Child death, Gaslighting, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Body horror

megelizabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

"A woman’s voice is a hex. She must learn to exalt men always. If she doesn’t do that, then she is a threat. A demon whore, a witch - so says everyone and the law. So say the King and his guards. So say the witch-pricker and his sadistic friends. So say the husbands, the haters, the wives, the daughters, the God-fearing - demons are always trying to kill them, so they know. So says the hangman who sleeps with Bible in hand."

I don't typically enjoy books that fictionalise real historical figures, but I went into this not knowing much abut it and actually ended up not minding that it does so as it's just such a harrowing, brutal, and important story and tribute both to Geillis Duncan and to the many, many women and girls who have suffered and continue to suffer horrifically. It's by definition dark and depressing, but it also captures female friendship and solidarity so beautifully and that really was its shining light for me. It packs so much into so few pages without ever feeling like it's doing too much or not giving the characters or themes the respect they deserve. 

I will say that the ending confused me slightly, but I'm sure I got the gist and it might be one that benefits from a re-read as I'm sure I would get even more out of both the ending and the wider story a second time around. Jenni Fagan has an incredible poetic way with words and I'd definitely be keen to read more from her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: Racism

bek_p87's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

This was short but visceral, a tale of suffering and surviving - in a sense - the patriarchy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, and Violence

annemaries_shelves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

An absolutely perfect (albeit dark) read while on vacation in Edinburgh this summer.

It's dark and violent and sad, as we spend 100 pages with Geillis Duncan, a witch imprisoned in 1591 for witchcraft, as she meets with a witch named Iris from the future. Fagan packs a lot in about womanhood, gender expectations and roles, classism and power dynamics, religion, and the culpability of society in allowing these witch burnings to happen. As expected, it gets a little heavy-handed at times, but considering the limitations of a novella (and the beautiful writing), I'm fine with it.

I really appreciated Geillis and Iris's dynamic and relationship - it was lovely to read. 

Definitely recommend as a short, dark read about the realities of witch hunts.

CW: graphic descriptions of torture (including rape), imprisonment, death by hanging.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, and Confinement

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Death, and Classism

medini_l's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Torture, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

itremindsmeof_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Torture, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood