Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman

57 reviews

ecster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.0

An emotional rollercoaster of a book if there ever was one, a great feminist perspective of witch trials in 17th century Norway.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Suicide

paveley_poet_prat's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape and Suicide

britters68's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape

amber_lfor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Stunning book, and what an ending!

scrumblebooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

This is a brutal, dark, emotional read based, in part, on real people and events. A harrowing tale of life for women in 17th century Norway and how any misdeed or slip of the tongue could land you in serious peril. Difficult to read at times, though definitely worthwhile and the addition of occasional small folk tales and myths as well as hints of magical realism were welcome. I would certainly recommend this insightful book, although I would line up something decidedly lighter and altogether fluffier to read next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Infertility, Blood, and Pregnancy

madamelacy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A powerful, exhilarating read. I felt so angry at the way men treated women who weren’t submissive enough, as they were so afraid of the women’s power. However, the female characters all find a way of being, beyond the control of men.

This book was beautifully written and I could absolutely imagine the landscape, freezing weather, dirt and foul smells! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

staceyinthesticks's review

emotional informative sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Confinement and Pregnancy

alice_poppy's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Torture, and Murder

katiemcdo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Dark historical fiction that gives powerful voices to those women impacted by the Vardo witch trials. Very well researched, I particularly enjoyed the use of Sami and Norse folklore. Good use of POVs and well build characters. 

It took me a little while to get into it and the middle third of the book felt a bit long but it does help to emphasise the long, torturous winter experienced by those on trial. The pacing really picked up in the last third of the novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Torture

angwlikareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape