Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon

7 reviews

sara_shocks's review against another edition

dark funny informative

4.0

Roman history if you want to think about the legality of homicides and also want Philomena Cunk narrating. I generally enjoyed the more dry humor, but it's not for everyone, especially on the topic of murder.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt

emmsbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, and War

crownoflaurel's review

challenging funny informative medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Sexual violence, and Suicide

danimacuk's review against another edition

dark funny informative slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Religious bigotry

simixfe's review

dark emotional funny informative medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Antisemitism

anneshamitha's review

adventurous dark informative medium-paced

4.75

I really liked this book. I love how it grounded Rome in the slave state that it was, and never lost sight of that. I also appreciated how she walked us through her sources, including those that conflict, instead of presenting a singular narrative as fact. Unfortunately, she tries way too hard to be cool. This almost turned me off entirely, but because the actual substance of the book was so good it kind of felt like rolling your eyes at a professor who tries to be too hip, but that you like anyway because you’re actually learning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Genocide

vicious's review

dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I was super excited for this book having read and thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Southon's Agrippina book a few months ago, and I was not disappointed. Southon writes as if she were sitting across from you in a bar, telling you about Roman history over a few beers and some greasy fries. Her writing is engaging, fun, and interesting. I've never been one for Roman history, but she ignites an interest inside of me purely because she makes learning about it so fun.

This book is about the complicated definition of murder from a Roman standpoint, comparing it to a modern viewpoint to realistically put into perspective just how different today's world culture is from that of ancient Rome. It's very fascinating. If you're into true crime and/or Roman history, you will love it. If you, like me, are not into either, you may still take a liking to it as I have. If only all history books were written in such a fun and engaging manner maybe more people would be interested in history as a whole.

There are some hefty trigger warnings to take into account with this book as it does detail some brutal and gory deaths. Also, definitely keep a placeholder on the footnotes; they can be a joy to read and often provide additional information.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, and Death of parent