Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Circe by Madeline Miller

136 reviews

emlawley's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

I listened to this book in stages as it is intense due to the subject matter, but I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t know much about Greek history and mythology but had heard good things about this retelling as it centred Circe and other often-sidelined female characters in history. As expected, there are some very difficult and upsetting scenes. Fascinating, thought-provoking and important.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder

novastorm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body horror and Rape

Minor: Death, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and War

hyuneybear's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

juulolantern's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

this is the most challenging and beautiful experience ive ever had w a book. im so glad i got to be immersed in circe's world. i how character driven this was and that is the main reason i could complete it, weirdly enough bc i dont usually feel drawn to character examinations. also madeline's insane writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Incest, and Sexual content

kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

louisec12's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

I read this book right after finishing The Song of Achilles which was the right thing to do because this book contains spoilers for The Song of Achilles. 

I loved Circe! She was a complete powerhouse and I loved her journey from being timid and naive to bold, strong and powerful but still caring. I loved reading about her carving her path in life and perfecting her witchcraft in the face of everyone who wants to tear her down and the many challenges she faces. I also loved the revisiting of quotes from characters who appeared earlier in the book when Circe realises the meaning behind what they were saying.

I would say that I found some of the wording quite confusing. The author sometimes uses a phrase like "and there it was. I knew what it was before I saw it...." but then would take ages to explain what it was to the reader so it could be confusing for people who aren't up to speed on Greek mythology such as myself. I also found the book slightly slow in parts and sometimes struggled to finish it because of that. The beginning of the book is quite slow which might put some people off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

frankahilde's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.5

After loving the song of Achilles I finally got around to reading Madeline millers second book. I was instantly hooked on the story and felt sucked into circes world. I also read it on vacation in southern France and the scenery made me feel so connected to Circe on her island. It is beautifully written but I did find it a bit slow towards the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Incest and War

khaandre's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

lavenderzinnia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content