Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

29 reviews

aseel_reads's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

I truly didn't think I would enjoy this book was much as I did. It striked a good balance between historical fiction (for that time period) and adventure/mystery! Just the feminist tones while kicking ass, fantastic. I also loved the sister relationship so much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lyricallit's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

Be warned, ends with a cliffhanger/definitive build up to a sequel -- which I CANNOT WAIT FOR! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Excrement

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, and Trafficking

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

jhbandcats's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

I loved this book from beginning to end but I confess that if I hadn’t had to read it for a book group, I’d never have picked it because it looks and sounds like it’s a lightweight “cozy mystery,” the last thing I’d normally choose. This has lots of humor and it’s quite entertaining but it’s about as far from cozy as you can get. Vivid descriptions of truly appalling situations abound. 

This is a feminist tirade against the abuse of women in the 18th and 19th Centuries, and nothing about it is gentle. I am not one to cry at books but I had tears in my eyes reading about the conditions at the private insane asylum - women chained half-naked in feces up to their ankles is just one example of the many cruelties and injustices. 

The author has done copious research on the Regency period of England (1811-1820), and it tells in the detail she brings to the story. This would be a good companion to Jane Austen’s books and the somewhat later ones of the Bronte’s. They focused on polite society whereas this book shows a part of England they may not have known existed. 

Unfortunately for me, this book was only just published so I’ll have to wait all too long for the sequel. I know it will be well worth the wait, but still….

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

turrean's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.25

Kudos for queer representation, for sharing a character’s journey away from religious belief, and for some fascinating Regency vulgarities.

However, the  lighthearted Austenesque situation at the beginning of the book is quickly overshadowed by some horrific set pieces (the brothel, the hospital, the madhouse.) The descriptions of human trafficking, rape, brutal and inhuman incarceration, and the tortures of surgery with no anesthesia were doubtless historically accurate but no less painful to read. The copy of the book I read had an excerpt of a review right above the title: “Smart and sassy!!” which was an odd choice for a book that tells unflinchingly of the treatment of women in that era. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, and Medical trauma

The book is tagged as “lighthearted” by many readers. No. It’s not.

alyssajp's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

Adventurous. Action. Feminist. Sisterhood. A bit of romance. Tackles some heavy topics including breast cancer, faith, confinement, graphic neglect/abuse; not a "light-hearted" read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Rape

jchinzi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Medical trauma

katrinaward's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

italapas's review against another edition

Well written and engaging but the content warnings are to be taken seriously. I stopped reading it because I was unwell and my library took the ebook back before I could finish. I don't know that I will seek it out again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, and Lesbophobia

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Incest, Infertility, Racism, Pregnancy, and Alcohol