Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Cunning Women by Elizabeth Lee

5 reviews

amyableamy's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

amyashby's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

emkam's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

lalabeths's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Pace was a bit slow at times. Phrasing / grammar was a bit awkward. I didn’t know what to expect going into this but agree with others that this is more of a historic fiction definition of witch than the magical fantasy type. Great book but don’t go in with the hope of everything being wrapped up nicely in the end. The big events of the book didn’t happen until the end and I wish there had been a bit more pages in that bit to really send home the feelings and message. Felt rushed, never really got pulled in to experience that “movie as you’re reading” feeling. The end felt unresolved and made me ask “that’s it?” Made me want to throw it across the room because ugh the potential is there! Still worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

taylahmay's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

1.0

PLEASE NOTE: this review is for my own reflection and I in no way aim to offend with my rambling thoughts.

While the story has intriguing characters, not much is done with them. There’s a lot of teasing re the source of their magic and even the actions of the mother in the past that we never get a full explanation of. With a slow burn to start and a rush of events to end, it struggled to keep my attention and interest. 

However, the historical world that’s built is wonderful and feels well fleshed out. With historical references to day to day life, celebrations, society, and beliefs, it puts you in the environment of the story and aids understanding of the characters.

I felt let down with the end after hoping for strong character development of the main male character, just to have him half heartedly own up for a portion of his actions and simultaneously act as a martyr which seemed unnecessary. Without spoiling it, I felt there was a way for all of them to leave. Or at least have that option voiced and considered and then dashed if need be. 

My biggest gripe is the tag line of “feminist tale”. Yes, the main character is a female and it deals greatly with her station in life as a result, but the story doesn’t call negative attention on the sexism of the time or have any character voice it. Actually, the sexism and misogyny of the characters become more outspoken and dangerous towards the end. This doesn’t make the book bad, but considering I chose to read this book under the assumption I would be met with a strong female character making waves or at least having her strength make an impact, I felt doubly disappointed. I was met with

female characters turning on each other and pointing fingers, extreme jealously that turns dangerous, a matriarch who wants to protect but actually ignores all logic and pleas to place her family in direct danger and then ultimately weakens to the point of becoming a ward herself, male characters sexually assaulting female characters and getting away with it completely with no mention of their crime except the derision pointed towards the women (at least one of which is a child), and and a main character who ultimately holds her tongue in the end so as to save her family and get by in a mans world

. I think the feminist tag line is not appropriate. Actually, the more I think on it, the more I feel lied to, & the angrier I get.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Pregnancy