Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

20 reviews

linhsreadinghour's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

3.5

PLEASE CHECK TW BEFORE READING THIS BOOK.

Hmm, this was ok. It wasn’t a chore to read, I felt like I was pretty invested in Amara and wanted to see how things would pan out for her. I was about 150 to the end and that’s when I started getting bored. The book has no huge major plot points, it just followed Amara’s life. Nothing remarkable really happened, it’s pretty dark but that’s to be expected reading a book about women working in brothels in Pompeii. I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. I felt some things weren’t tied up nicely and I still had questions. 

I don’t think I’ll continue with the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abortion

smarzipan's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Body shaming, Abandonment, and Alcohol

katiekitkatbookfiend's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

Stunning story - completely draws you in to their world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Although this is a heavy list of content triggers, they are very much within the historical and social context of the story.

kmami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

one of the best books i’ve read so far this year. the plot is perfectly thought out. the story was perfectly written. i really couldn’t put it down; i finished it in 24 hours. i can’t wait to read the second book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

michaelcattigan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

eelizard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

lottselgar's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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? Yes

4.75

never felt more attached to a group of women who work in a brothel before

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

motherofbears's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Devastatingly beautiful and sad. You can tell a lot of care went into the research for this book, you get a view into what life was like for slaves in Pompeii (often terrible). I couldn’t put it down and read most of it over a couple days.

I took away a tiny bit because the ending felt a little tied up with a bow, but knowing this is book one of a trilogy makes me hopeful for more development in the future.

This is historical fiction at it’s most literary. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

racheleanne06's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Pompeii comes to life in this harrowing tale of slavery and womanhood in AD 74. It’s a about love, friendship and doing what it takes to survive in this harsh unforgiving world.

I visited Pompeii last summer and every piece of what I saw there came to life in this book. From the food, and people, to the ancient celebrations and the cultures, you feel like you are there, in the city with the Wolf Den girls back in AD 74.

The plot is very character focused, but you really care for Amara and the other girls despite their flaws, and this world they are inhabiting is so full of terror and horrors that you can’t help but plead with the gods and goddesses that they survive the ordeals they are subjected to. 

If you enjoy historical fiction and learning about the ancient worlds, then this book is for you. Perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and Philippa Gregory. Just don’t expect perfect happy endings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Abortion, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit