Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

6 reviews

oliviagrace430's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.25

I don’t know about this one. I almost DNFed after the first third (huge CW for abuse), and then it took a really bizarre turn I did not see coming, and I felt I had to finish. I’ve been on a reading kick about female rage, but this was my least favorite I read within this theme. I don’t think I’d recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Police brutality, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail

amandadelbrocco's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

 Wow. I finished this book a few weeks ago and I think about it all the time. Content warnings for everything under the sun. I had to put it down a few times because it got to be too much but it just served to make it more memorable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Animal death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Medical trauma

ferdie's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

The Violence is thoughtful and creative. It ties the threads of what it's like to be a woman in the US together in a way that feels so affirming. I loved reading this book! Also if you search the author on spotify, she has a playlist for the book :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion, Bullying, Death of parent, Deportation, and Gun violence

melliedm's review

dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Sexism, Medical content, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Rape

mondovertigo's review

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Classism, Body shaming, Blood, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Gore, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Stalking, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Excrement, Rape, Police brutality, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Gun violence

thereadingraccoon's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Book Review: The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

The Violence is a suspense novel with elements of horror and dystopia in a post-Covid Florida and the effect a new virus has on three generations of women. 

A new virus spread by mosquitos arrives in Florida just months after the Covid crisis. But instead of flu-like symptoms this disease causes the victim to go into an immediate and mindless rage that leaves anyone near at risk of being attacked and killed. Stay at home mom Chelsea uses the crisis to escape her abusive marriage and protect her daughters and turns to the least likely person to help, her own mother Patricia. But Patricia is trying to hold on to her wealthy lifestyle with both hands and her daughter and granddaughters don’t fit into those plans. All three generations of women will face their darkest fears over the coming weeks as the world falls apart around them and they will have to reinvent themselves in order to finally find out who they truly are. 

This is a gritty novel that features the darkest parts of the human experience. Both Chelsea and her daughter Ella are trapped in abusive and controlling relationships while Patricia traded her soul long ago for money and status. The random outbursts of violence are intense and gruesome and there are also animal deaths. The author kept The Violence from getting too grim by including some campy elements like Chelsea’s new career as a professional fighter and subtle digs to a past American President and current pop culture. 

Overall, this is a book that is hard to put down. There are plenty of disturbing elements but it’s also a story about family, resilience and being true to yourself. 

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Animal cruelty, Violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Sexism, Police brutality, Misogyny, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Classism, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts