Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers

6 reviews

sunsetsam723's review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Gruesome and glorious. MEMORABLE, rhythmic prose that is steeped in the dirt of the land it describes, and somehow makes explicit, continuous violence sound beautiful. Each moment described with vivid clarity. The landscape is the best character here. And though no human character is likable, it’s impressive how we’re made to root for the inevitable heroes, despite some of their morally detestable actions, because we’re swept along in their viewpoints and made to empathize with their circumstances and conviction. The contrast between the clashing writing styles of the main narrative, the journal entries written in eye dialect, and the formal speech of the representatives of the law is brilliant. Did not expect to like this nearly as much as I did, but I’m glad I gave it a chance.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Classism, Murder, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Confinement

dorrie98's review

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

Was v well written and fascinating history but also it was disturbing and horrible to read 😩

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Gore, Murder, Torture, Body horror, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood

g_monaghan's review

adventurous informative inspiring slow-paced

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

2.5

Interesting dramatic reading of the exploits of the Crag Vale Coiners and how they tried to evade and rebel against the law of the land.

Whilst there were times of utter brilliance and beautifully written prose this book was 2/3rd longer than it needed to be, a lot of repetition and whilst it's meant to be heavier on informative than the dramatic, it was predictable and besides the descriptions of violence, relatively flat overall.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Torture

p_ttyb_tch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

your_true_shelf's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence

_haggis_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death, Cursing, and Torture

Moderate: Confinement and Murder

It is gritty and doesn't gloss over tte violent, sexual, savageness of moor life in the 18th century. But it is never glorified or romanticised