Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Le crépuscule et l'aube by Ken Follett

14 reviews

linda_wolf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Excrement, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

melina_30's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful informative inspiring 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Infertility

anna_pengu's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, and Murder

Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury

oberynmelonlord's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, War, and Classism

schaffermi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and War

goldenlake's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Cursing, Genocide, Infertility, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

sramac's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ahinks's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Trafficking, Grief, Gaslighting, and War

kylieqrada's review against another edition

emotional relaxing sad slow-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

3.5

3.5 ⭐s. Not the best way to start off 2022, but I'll take it. I've read both of Ken Follett's sweeping historical epic series, and while my heart belongs to the Century Trilogy, the Pillars of the Earth is a very strong story as well. I do think that this entry added something to the saga, and it was fascinating to dive even deeper into history, this time into the Dark Ages, and see the beginnings of Kingsbridge. These books are a quiet comfort reading experience for me, which is weird to say because of my main critique of this book. I think that all of the misogyny, sexual assault, rape, slavery, abuse, homophobia, etc., while perhaps historically accurate, did get a little overwhelming and even gratuitous. I don't love trauma for trauma's sake.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Pedophilia

Minor: Infertility and Grief

beanjoles's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

4.5

Amazing audio production - John Lee made the 24 hours fly by! 

This was my first Ken Follett read. I picked it up as a skip-the-line loan on a whim and I’m very glad I did! Other reviewers have mentioned that the characters don’t have a ton of depth, and that’s true, but it was still a really fun, tense, and informative listen. Spoiler for the ending:

Even though I know the ending was way too pat, with the good characters finally getting their heart’s desires and the villains finally being punished, it felt incredible to see our long suffering protagonists have something good happen to them for a change. I was thrilled by Aldred getting his bishopric and Ragna and Edgar getting, at long last, to enjoy their love and be married.

 

One of my favourite aspects of this novel was the keen attention paid to the minutiae of English life in the Dark Ages. I learned about shipbuilding, construction, and life for common peasants. It was interesting seeing the beginnings of the landlord system and how the laws regarded people of different statuses and genders. I also learned a lot about the horrors of slavery practised by the English, something I didn’t realize they’d been doing even way back then. I’d say I enjoyed the book as much for its world building as I did for the plot and characters. 

I liked this enough to put a hold on the Pillars of the Earth, and I’m excited to see where the story goes next! 

A content note: As you might expect of a book written about this era, there is a good deal of sexual violence in this book. Some of it is gratuitous to the plot but does contribute to worldbuilding (unfortunately). Id probably stay away from this book if sexual violence and r*pe are triggers for you. Examples:

Several female slaves are prostituted against their wills, and one of the protagonists is subjected to repeated rapes during a nearly year-long kidnapping that result in an unwanted pregnancy. It’s a lot!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

Minor: Infertility and Suicidal thoughts