Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

46 reviews

skateybarb's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War

kris_tea516's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad fast-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

4.0

This book is a modern epic. It follows the time just after the Trojan War and in parallel with “The Odyssey” but from the perspective of the women. This book tells the story of several women including Eris (goddess of discord & strife), Penthesilea (an Amazon queen), Thetis (mother of Achilles), Oenone (Paris’ wife), Penelope (Odysseus’s wife), and a few others. 

I wasn’t sure I was going to like the book at first. There were so many perspectives & I was worried I was going to get lost in all the characters but the author did the narration for the audiobook and did an amazing job. She added sigh’s, sarcasm, and passion where just reading the physical book I think I would have missed. 

Since this follows the aftermath of war, especially ancient world war, it deals with a lot of really hard realities that most definitely happened to the conquered people, particularly the women & children. It discusses the killing of children and the elderly, the enslavement and rape of women, the trauma of mothers losing their children and husbands (even a very traumatic scene where an infant is murdered). I know these things did (and likely still do) happen & it is good for us to face the realities of war & consider the cost but it is still very difficult to read. There were times I had to take a break to keep from breaking down. 

I will say, my favorite character is Penelope and her “letters” to Odysseus and her growing anger and irritation with him. Her sarcasm was excellent and I wanted cry out, “You tell him, Penelope!” 

If you enjoy Greek history and mythology, especially “The Iliad” &/or “The Odyssey,” I would highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

thewillowwood's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Incredible. Beautifully written, the audiobook was wonderful, first audiobook i’ve been able to complete with ease. A must read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

listen, if you’ve read the iliad, similar topics and triggers apply.

oksanana31's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

garnethalo's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

While I wanted to give it a 4.75, I realized I only didn't want to give it 5 because I couldn't place blame. Unlike in Stone Blind, where I could blame Athene or Perseus, I could blame no one in A Thousand Ships. And even then the book tried to place the blame, on Helen, on Paris, Aphrodite, Eris, Thetis, Zeus. But no one can take sole blame. And this books makes you face the sorrow of the women. Without a clear cut villian. It filled it's purpose beautifully and forced the reader to stare at the victims of war, with no one at fault.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Animal death, Gore, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

It a story about the women affected by the Trojan war. Both Greeks, Trojans, and women nearby Troy. Greek tragedy even sadder when you consider the women. You have been warned.

miguelito_juanito's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

lauramcc7's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and War

booklifeisthelife's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad slow-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

3.5

So. This was my first book by this author but also my first Greek mythology book. I'm not familiar with it at all really. So to say it was a little confusing would be an understatement xD. I noticed some inconsistencies throughout that bothered me as well. Still enjoyed the book. 3.5 stars.  I loved each character, felt for each. Was very sad and heartbreaking but I still liked how their story was told. I like the perspective of the women and hearing their voices. Each one was so brave in their own way..I would have liked to get to know each more though. For the ones who didn't die. We never got to know how uhm..the one who married Achilles cousin and the girl the priests son friended, we never got to know how she fared.. Because of my lack of knowledge of Greek mythology and my general horrible memory, I can't say names for many but each character resonated with me in some way. All the female ones I mean. Though Hecabe was a little off putting but she had lost so many peopleand the way she behaved made sense I suppose. I would have also liked to have gotten more of the gods perspectives because that was a bit confusing but that could be due to my lack of knowledge, again. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I was more familiar with the mythology. Maybe in a few years if I know more I'll re-read this and appreciate it more

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War

annakh16's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

margaret_k30's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism