Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

23 reviews

beccamay99's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Drug use, and Pregnancy

rchulin1's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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

Im so surprised that this was published in 2019 more than 30 years after The Handmaids Tale was. But since this is the case the writing is a bit different but still amazingly done. In this book you get three perspectives: Aunt Lydia, Baby Nicole (all grown up), and Agnes. The story takes place fifteen years after the first book though some of the story takes place only several years later which can be confusing so you see Agnes as a child for a bit then as a teenager and lastly as a young adult in her early twenties while Nicole’s perspective is only from her being 15. Hand maids are not really in this book except for a few moments but I’m glad to have seen the other side of wives and aunts all that goes with it. There’s so many comparisons between Nicole and Agnes since they were brought up so differently but somehow have to work together. I believe this book is easier to read than the first book. Also I loved the “fake news “ bit

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

rea1997's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

I just finished reading this book, and I have to say, it's pretty wild. It's a sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, but you really need to have read that to understand it. The world-building is on point, and it's cool to see more of Gilead and how it works.

The story itself is a bit predictable, but it's still interesting to see how everything plays out. I especially liked the parts with Aunt Lydia and Agnes Jemima. They were my favorite characters. Daisy was kind of annoying, though. I couldn't stand her.

One thing I didn't like was the ending for Aunt Lydia. I thought it was kind of harsh. But overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a good read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

5.0

It took a minute to realize there were three POV but when I did, the story started coming together so nicely. I really didn’t want to put this down. I’m a sucker for a dystopian, corrupt-government tale, and this, much like The Handmaid’s Tale, didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed getting a peek into Aunt Lydia’s mind. Atwood’s work continues to be timely and relevant and this sequel to the 1985 Handmaid’s Tale was equal parts fascinating and horrifying. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

irisandfoxglove's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

I found the book really engaging and an enjoyable read. I’ll note it works really well as an audiobook, which isn’t always the case.

I don’t understand why Becca met the fate that she did. Also, I cried when they mentioned the statue with the forget me nots at the end. She is a character I was sad to not see more development of, especially when reading the secret files. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Torture, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

tigertheory's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Fatphobia, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, and War

dev921's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kayleejanes's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

galerieanna25's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

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

---

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