Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman

37 reviews

bellsdixon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

kiershook's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Torture

ella_bibliophile_98's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Beautifully written book of the horrifying witch trials of Norway in the 17th century. 

I really enjoyed the descriptions of nature and the magic of the female relationships vs. The cold cruelty of the world of men 

It felt a bit hard at times because it is a historical novel the language can be difficult l,  but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. 

Very sad and quite graphic at times but well worth a read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Blood, and Murder

kiwialexa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

hannahrhian's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

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

batbaby's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-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

It is such a beautiful book and one I’ll carry with me, there are such sad and graphic scenes but so thoughtfully and well written

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content

Set during witch trials so comes with the upset and mistreatment of women associated with these times, fairly scary upsetting sexual assault of a minor page number in spoiler

page 260-264, it is mentioned maybe twice after that but not in graphic detail

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