Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman

4 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

bookchatwithbeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

tigglez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

swalk's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

Set in the 1660’s, Anya Bergman weaves an epic tale of poverty, prejudice and oppression in the bitter climate of Northernmost Norway. Based on real characters and events, this story illustrates the exile, torture and maltreatment of women accused of witchcraft at the time.  
 
 The tale is told from dual perspectives; firstly that of Fru Anna Rhodius, a women of medicine and herbology, as she diarises her life in letters to her past lover and now captor King Fredrik.of Finnmark.

Secondly Ingeborg, a young woman from a fishing family, daughter of Zigri and elder sister of Kirsten. Ingeborg tries to her utmost provide for her family and keep them safe from harm with the help of her strong and devoted cousin Marin. 

 

These women’s stories become enmeshed as they fail to be confined by the expectations of society, and are deemed to be witches by the men in power.

I found this book a little hard to follow at first due to the dual viewpoints and working out the family dynamics, but once I got into the rhythm of the book and the stories began to converge I really became invested in the characters, however flawed they may be.
 
 The narrator is excellent and conveys the dark and atmospheric mood of the writing very well giving a great performance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Violence, and Death of parent