nreyno's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War
clarezillaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Child death, Rape, Torture, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual assault, War, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Grief, and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent and Addiction
Minor: Outing, Suicide, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Mental illness
mslote17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Abortion, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, War, and Death
uzzyla's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Abortion, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
leahisdudish's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Miscarriage, Death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Addiction, Suicide, Sexual violence, Murder, Infertility, Infidelity, Gun violence, Drug use, Rape, Torture, War, Domestic abuse, Violence, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
galerieanna25's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, War, Sexual assault, Rape, Torture, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Murder
scifipunk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical trauma, War, Rape, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Abortion, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infertility, Homophobia, and Murder
Note that all minor warnings refer to usually less than a page of content, not explicit and are easy to skim or skip. Grief is not particularly explicit, only tagged as major because it is a recurring theme for several characters. Alcohol (and alcohol abuse) is mentioned several times with different characters, including as response to trauma, but not explicit. Death is never explicit, but given that the novel takes place within 107 years, to be expected. Medical trauma refers to a long scene early in Kitty’s part of the book, which involves a traumatic encounter with the soviet secret service. Can be easily skipped, as consequences are addressed later on. Several wars are mentioned, multiple characters experience a traumatic rape, though most of both happens off-screen or is somewhat censored by the narrator.towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Torture
elenek14's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, War, Child death, Death, Rape, Violence, Suicide, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Abortion and Bullying
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Genocide
katewhite77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is quite a commitment in both length and graphic content so won't be for everyone, but if you feel able to commit then it will give you a really good story whilst also teaching you something of the history of the USSR. In particular through the eyes of thè female line of a fictitious Georgian family.
However it really does not shy away from the brutality of life behind the iron curtain and tells a tragic tale in many particularly given the geopolitical situation we find ourselves in at the moment.
Please proceed with exstreame caution if you are struggling with your mental health. I don't know whether I would have started the journey had I been fully armed with the facts before doing so but I was too gripped to stop once I had started. A masterpiece.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Drug use, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Violence, War, Torture, Cancer, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Murder, Genocide, and Drug abuse