Scan barcode
ernis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
We follow the story of several female convicts from the UK as well as as an indigenous child from Australia who eventually cross paths. Although the story is fictional, the history it is based on is eye opening and disturbing. This novel gives a new appreciation for female rights, in modern times, in first world countries.
Graphic: Misogyny and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Excrement, Abortion, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
jenxreads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Minor: Confinement, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
gkm00's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation
ruffian23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Deportation
cepbreed's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
From the bottom of my heart, I love the overall message of this novel to pass kindness forward. A simple act of kindness can change someone's life entirely and there is so much beauty in that. Evangeline wasn't treated kindly (without underlying bad intentions) for a second when she was working as a governess yet she maintained her character and was able to aid both Olive and Hazel. They in turn passed that kindness forward and impacted the lives of others. Kindness is vital to the human condition, but one of my favorite moments in the story was someone refusing a kind offer.
Hazel became a quick favorite of mine once she was introduced. There are so many things about her character to love, but one facet of her backstory has been stuck in my brain. I love how the thing she stole, which resulted in her imprisonment and transportation, was literally a silver spoon. She was a child, shunned by her own mother, and the straw she was forced to grasp at was the exact concept of a comfortable and struggle-free life. She could've been happy, even in poverty, if her mother was loving, but instead, she got a woman who threw her into the streets both literally and metaphorically forcing her to vy for a silver spoon which could never be hers anyway.
Dr. Dunne really crept up on me as a character and I ended up loving him. Originally I was wary of him. Who could blame me? The poor protagonists were betrayed and wronged by so many people in their lives I was instinctually distrustful of the conveniently kind doctor, but I was pleasantly surprised to see myself be wrong. I LOVE that man!!!
Song:
- evermore - Taylor Swift
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Blood, Excrement, and Alcohol
breads23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
backpackingbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Feeling extremely grateful to my book club for picking this one as I had never come across this novel or author, both of which have now become firm favourites.
Firstly, the writing was nothing short of stunning. It was beautifully descriptive, shockingly realistic, and truly captivating. The parts on the ship had my stomach churning - I've never read such a detailed description of a voyage and it showed just how much research the author put into her writing and characters. There was one part that left me gasping (IYKYK) and was a huge risk that the author took but it more than paid off.
The characters were so realistic that I feel like I'm missing a small limb now that I've finished the book. I became so attached to their stories and livelihoods that it felt especially hard to part from them. This is definitely one of those books where I could have quite happily had an extra 100+ pages to keep the story from ending. Evangeline's bravery, Hazel's determination, Mathinna's resilience, and Ruby's stubbornness were all traits that produced four strong, memorable leading females that will stay with me for a long time.
Another thing I appreciated was how the author blended fact with fiction. I love well-researched books that are based, to some extent, on historical events and The Exiles offered so much more than just a fictional tale. It was a poignant and shocking insight into colonialism, injustice, abuse and mistreatment of indigenous people, and the imprisonment of female convicts sent to Australia from Britain for the main purpose of breeding. While massively eye-opening, it was also educational and made me want to expand my knowledge, especially as I now live in this country myself.
A real gem of a masterpiece. I can't wait to explore this author's other works.
Rating breakdown
- Plot/narrative - 4.8
- Writing style/readability - 4.9
- Characters - 4.8
- Diverse themes - 4.8
- Ending - 4.7
Graphic: Confinement and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
kimveach's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
baearles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol
kristenturningpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Rape, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism