Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Affinity

Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Affinity by Sarah Waters

12 reviews

wildpasserine's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

So, I just finished this book. I AM DEAD. Brb, going through the five stages of grief. My heart has been ripped from my body, and my soul is aching from both the genius and horribleness of it all. Rest in peace to me.

Sad for my girl Peggy; rest in peace to her too.

Damn this book; so good—but BRUTAL.

Also, WTF, Ruth!? I knew something was up during the creepy hairbrush scene, but I didn’t think it would be as sinister as it was in the end. “Remember who’s girl you are.” CHILLS.

Sarah Waters has truly outdone herself with this one. The emotional depth of Affinity is both a blessing and a curse. From the very first page, Waters draws you into the lives of her characters with such intimacy and intensity that you can’t help but become deeply invested in their fates. The relationships, the heartaches, the moments of fleeting joy—all of it feels so real, so raw. The intricate character development leaves you feeling like you’ve lost a dear friend by the end.

Waters’ portrayal of longing, despair, and the search for connection is masterful. The narrative is a powerful exploration of human emotion and doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the human experience. The way she captures the essence of Victorian-era societal constraints while delving into the character’s internal struggles is both haunting and beautiful. The disturbing atmosphere of the Milbank prison is going to stay with me for a while, too.

Another aspect that struck me was the book’s depiction of mental illness. The portrayal of depression and emotional turmoil was incredibly relatable, even in a modern-day context. The way the characters grapple with their inner demons and societal pressures resonated deeply with me. It’s a testament to Waters’ skill that she can make the struggles of a bygone era feel so immediate and personal.

If you're ready to have your soul crushed Victorian Gothic style (in the best way possible), this book is for you. 🖤✌️

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grayshuff's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.75

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lidia7's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

Really enjoyed it

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eleanor029's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I love Sarah Waters' writing but this book was so slow to build up. Had it been my first of hers, I'm not sure I would have finished it.
Having finished it, I see the full picture and can appreciate the story, but while reading it, I was not as hooked as usually when reading Sarah Waters.
This would be a good book club book to compare to 'Fingersmith', since I thought the vibes were similar in the end.

I did find it quite unsatisfying though, that Selina never came to Margaret at all. I would have found the betrayal greater had she maybe come to Margaret in her room, kissed her, taken the things and then left her standing. But then again, the context of her escape would have been harder to explain...

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reading_for_pluto's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-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

3.25

Content Warnings

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

It's official, I love Sarah Waters! The way she writes about love and desire just can't be matched and she had me really rooting for this

doomed romance

The atmosphere was also fantastic perfectly transitioning from the dark and grime of Milbank to the Prior's respectable but mundane home. What a feat!

However, this is not quite up there with Fingersmith for me. While the central characters are fascinating, the supporting characters such as the matrons and other prisoners start to blend together and the plot did drag a bit in the middle before reaching its thrilling conclusion.

Still a great book for me and a reminder that I need to continue with Sarah Water's back catalogue.

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