Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

30 reviews

killerwhaletank's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was exceptional! From the cover it looks like it should be in the romance section, but it definitely does not belong there, even though there is romance in the book.

The story covers three “cases” that sisters Augusta and Julia partake in, each one with some dark themes of abuse and mistreatment of women and children. Essentially it’s like three novellas tied together with overarching main story. It starts with the sisters retrieving a letter for a friend, which sets them on a path of what Augusta feels is true usefulness… helping those women that have no one else. Along the way they enlist the aid of their butler Weatherly, Lord Evan Belford (former nobleman turned highwayman) and others. They’re a Regency sort of “A-Team”.

The characters are fantastic. Rich, well-developed… particularly Augusta who is the one we follow (told from her perspective). They are realistic, compassionate women… and unlike in a romance novel, their reactions and the restrictions, particularly for two spinster women, is very darkly realistic.

The book is satisfying in its resolution, but has left a lot of stories unfinished (Augusta’s relationship with her brother Duffy, Lord Evan’s future, Mr. Kent and Julia, etc.). I hope that this means there is another book in the works. I would love to read more about these wonderful and amazing women.

This book is what Sarah Maclean’s Hell’s Belles SHOULD have been… if it had been more realistic, and the writing is fantastic.

Read the afterward by the author as well, it’s very, very interesting.

Such a great read, I was completely blown away by the quality of this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Excrement

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Rape

woofpack's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

Excellent book.  The characters are complex, the sorry encompasses a series of mysteries, not just one, which was so satisfying. I was one the endow of my seat for much of it.  The narrator, Kristen Atherton, for the audiobook was one of the best I’ve ever listened too.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

bessadams's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Colonisation

katyb24's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

smiti_nathan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Outing

crisania's review against another edition

adventurous sad medium-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

4.0

I like how this book focused on the lives of older heroines. All the characters are well developed. My favorite is Gus' character - she's independent, courageous, witty and adventurous.  The book has a strong plot driven by various cases that the twins go to solve along with Lord Evan Belford. The author was able to stay true to the time period while dealing with topics like women's health, sex trafficking, domestic abuse, death, and abuse of power. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Trafficking

emilywc's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Medical trauma, and Murder

jenabest's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

3.0

I feel a little duped by the blurb here, and, in all fairness, the Regency Era is not a favorite of mine. 

Despite the cover and blurb, this is rather dark. The topics are dark (cancer, asylums, human trafficking/prostitution, etc.) and disguised by the air of gentry. Do not be fooled - this is not a lighthearted mystery series. Even the romance aspect is rather dark. It's not what I expected, but the writing was good, so I'm not too down-and-out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Forced institutionalization, and Trafficking

goldseamedglass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity and Slavery

canonfolly's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail