Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Change by Kirsten Miller

5 reviews

anne_reader's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Blood, Cursing, Murder, Child abuse, Body shaming, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Death, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

cazastrophe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Abandonment, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual content, Vomit, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Rape, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

sciencewhizliz's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.5

I really liked this book. It was dark. But it was a fascinating plot with an interesting group of characters. Lots of trigger warnings for people though. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment

monalyisha's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.5

My husband LOVES stories about vigilante justice. Recently, when we were watching the newest season of Stranger Things and El struck a bully across the face with her roller skate, he legitimately cackled. I’ve *never* felt comfortable sharing in that kind of delight. This story is the exception. God, did it feel good to witness shitty, powerful men who are used to getting everything handed to them, get *exactly* what they deserve. 

Do I still think the morality is complex, and, perhaps, questionable? I do. But in this compulsively-readable, fictional tale of peri- and postmenopausal women coming into their powers and using them to bring male abusers and serial killers down, I barely flinched.

At first, I was worried that one of the three main characters is a black woman, written by a white woman. But I think it’s done (mostly if not totally) sensitively and that it serves both the story and a deepening sense of social conscience and consciousness. I trust Miller did her research and had readers checking her.  There’s one instance of food-shaming that I thought struck an odd chord. That noted, I’m now free to crow my praise.

This book was a BLAST to read! I didn’t want to put it down! The cast of characters is sharp and lively. Miller’s sense of wicked humor is a joy. And her overall message, that real magic lies in finding connection: connection to yourself, to friends and a community, and to nature, comes across clearly — as well as her darker but realistic message that sometimes, you have to burn it all down to rebuild something cleansed and purified from the ashes.

As far as the mystery, I can’t say sussing out the details was a challenge. I saw what was coming from a mile away (and I’m not psychic, just paying attention). That being said, I’m not a reader who *needs* a good mystery, so having foresight about the plot ruined nothing. And, I think the “twist” was a necessary one — in terms of showing how blame and responsibility can be shared and shouldered by unexpected parties (especially when race and class are factors).

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, Classism, and Gaslighting

shanchat's review

dark mysterious 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Death, Rape, Misogyny, Grief, Drug use, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Car accident, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, and Child abuse