Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

Die Zeuginnen by Monika Baark, Margaret Atwood

32 reviews

ahixon1's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Abortion

elenayasmin's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Atwood wrote this book to answer questions asked by readers of The Handmaid's Tale. However, many questions still remain unanswered, for example,

how exactly did the microdot in Nicole's arm lead to the downfall of Gilead

. It was certainly a very gripping read, however I am feeling somewhat dissatisfied after having finished reading it. Atwood builds a lot of suspense throughout the book, but the resolution seems somewhat unrefined. I think she could have afforded to reveal more in The Thirteenth Symposium chapter.

This book differs greatly from the first book due to the fact that The Handmaid's Tale follows only one character, and we get a very immersive experience of her life. The Testaments however follows the perspectives of three characters, which detatches us more from the characters and gives this book a closer feeling of a historical document. Atwood did very well in delivering the different personalities through their testaments, with each character having a unique voice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Pedophilia, Violence, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

leonormsousa's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious slow-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

thejuliette's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

eni_iilorak's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Classism

Minor: Infertility

bandysbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

I think one of the reasons that it took so long for there to be a follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale is just that it’s such a difficult story to do justice to. I tried to go into The Testaments with tempered expectations and I think that was helpful. This book is definitely solid, but definitely not as haunting as the original. 

The story follows three different POV characters as we learn what happens after Offred’s testimony. I thought this was an effective way to show a lot of progression in a lot of different places without making the book 1000 pages. 

I will say that while it did provide closure, it didn’t have the same emotional impact as HT. I did appreciate the resolution with some of the older characters like Aunt Lydia.

If you’re considering this series, I’d suggest:
Read Handmaid’s Tale
Watch The Handmaid’s Tale tv series
Finish with The Testaments

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lectricefeministe's review against another edition

hopeful tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, and Classism

asbat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

Could not put this book down. Love a good interconnected story with references to the first book. Enough of a sequel to link to hand maids tale but a story with new characters in its own right.

I liked seeing the different between the two sisters and their views on the world based on their experience and upbringing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Torture and Trafficking

uhm_kai's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.75

Profound but horribly real. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment