Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

63 reviews

amberghinii's review against another edition

reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Colonisation

rmperash's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Slavery

Moderate: Violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Abortion

Minor: Rape

annailles's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent

laheath's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.0

Although I had fantastic English teachers in high school, I remember the study of The Scarlet Letter being dry though the story was pretty good overall.  This book imagines the origin of Hawthorne's inspiration for that book.  With the inclusion of such details as strong female characters, references to the Salem witch trials and the Underground Railroad, and issues such as classism, equality, and freedom, this is a very interesting story of a woman making her way in the world with her own gifts.

Unfortunately, once again, the audiobook does not include the author's notes, which I've been told detail her research.  These should never be left out of audiobooks!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Classism

aqtbenz's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

Minor: Pregnancy

micaelamariem's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

This book had really good writing but the plot didn’t get too interesting until the last third. I’m sorry but I don’t find things about stitching and dressmaking interesting. Of course there was a lot more to it than that but that seemed to have the majority of the descriptions 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

chandrayisaacson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Evocative description, made me want to embroider everything I own. Strong women! Satisfying ending. Subtle magic. Interesting magical realism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Abortion, and Colonisation

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Grief, and Death of parent

artinyourworld's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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? No

3.75

"Albanese’s take on the inspiration of Hester Prynne is refreshing and adventurous. The explanation of synesthesia for witchcraft is interesting to say the least. However, I felt the use of synesthesia within the work was limited and frequently brushed aside to make room for more fantastical elements in Isobel’s character. Isobel seemed to be a character frequently struggling not just with how she sees the world but how she organizes it, and I think the element of synesthesia could have been used more throughout her story. I think the struggle to avoid what you see is an everyday, any moment type of struggle that was ignored more often than naught in the work. Mostly, Isobel dealt with the difference between what she wanted out of her life and what she could willingly expect from it. And that is a struggle we all deal with, which makes the story of Isobel more timeless than that of Hester."

Read the full review by clicking the following link: https://artinyourworld.com/2023/01/09/hester-by-laurie-lico-albanese/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Slavery, Death of parent, and Colonisation

bookswithbront's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book tried to do a few too many things and didn’t develop some of its ideas as fully as I’d like. But I still really enjoyed my time with the story. And I have a feeling that Isobel’s colors and the way the women came together to help each other survive are going to stick with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Classism

Minor: Miscarriage and Forced institutionalization

emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

I found this book really interesting and was always surprised and impressed with the turns that Isobel’s life took. I also was relieved by the ending. Definitely would recommend if you like historicals with a hint of magic and mystery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Slavery, and Xenophobia