Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

3 reviews

kbowles24's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Deportation

callistag1's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

Minor: Religious bigotry

mandersdraws's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.5

Ugh I need to read it again!! I feel like Hemlock Queen gets off to a sluggish (and maybe a little depressing) start, with the protagonist taking a passive role for a few chapters, but the action and tension really ramped up quickly. It wove a bunch of loose threads together from the first book into an intricate and rich tapestry, and it gave me even more ancient mysteries to think on while I wait for the next one!

I really love how the protagonist’s powers and relationship to the religion of the world allows us to peek into the ancient past. I love how it explores the fallibility of people, and of divine figures. I love that it calls into question the motives of the people writing our laws, our bibles.

And oh, I really fucking love the tragic romance. (I especially love the very real possibility of a “completed” love triangle here, my new One True Threesome). I love how tender some of the spicy scenes are. This shit is right up my alley!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Mental illness tag because while it’s related to the fantasy elements of the book, the protagonist hears voices. That and possession are big topics of the book. Also warning for dissociation.