Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

26 reviews

amyreadstoomuch10's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense

• 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Incest

salutemviv's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

okay i’m gonna be so honest, i definitely put off reading this for a good while. even with all the amazing things i’ve heard about it, i’m afraid ive always held a low view of most “christian romance” thinking it would be cheesy or too simple or something silly like that? but this book far exceeded whatever expectations i had. 

i’ve seen the movie before so i already knew the plot and how things unfold, but that absolutely did not take away from the reading experience. the things this book made me feel, i could go on and on about, but i’ll try to keep it short.

to summarize: the way this story reimagines the story of hosea, and as a whole the story of God’s love for us, is incredible and moving. i felt the Lord’s love for me radiating through these characters. the characters are written so beautifully, with realness and depth and so many layers. the way francine rivers writes is simple, yet descriptive, and touches on exactly the right emotions and the right thoughts. not to mention: the setting?? the descriptions of places?? so immersive and lowkey made me wanna live on a homestead and learn how to farm and garden.
i related deeply to angel much more than i expected to, honestly. but it was that relatability, and the love that was portrayed in the most broken situations to the most broken people, that gave this story almost a comforting angst. the feeling of being seen and being guided towards the One Who sees us all. 

so yeah, 5 stars. if i had to describe it in just one sentence, i would say that it’s like the feeling of baring your soul to someone, broken and in tears, and in return receiving the warmest, safest hug you could ever imagine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Violence and Abortion

iamnottrisha's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

Rating and reviewing this was much more difficult than I expected. I both loved and hated this story. I cried harder than I think I’ve ever cried in a book. The topics are HEAVY and heartbreaking. But the writing was so incredibly beautiful. 

It’s been some time since I’ve read anything in the Christian genre. And I find myself struggling to find ways to recommend it to any nonbeliever reader friends. Because there were so many times throughout this book I found myself kicking and screaming “it’s not fair. This is too much!” 

The trauma and heartbreak this book brings feels never ending a lot throughout this book. But the all consuming, unrelenting and redeeming love shown throughout this book was so well written 🥺

If I were rating this book based on the emotional rollercoaster it put me through and some of the horrific topics it covered I don’t think I could have given it 5 stars. But it’s just so well written and beautiful I had to set my mended heart aside for the review lol 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

charitywitt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

3.5

This book was very repetitive I didn't feel it needed to be so long. All in all tho it was a pretty good book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

beklovesbooks's review against another edition

Terrible book. Hard to like characters. Soft porn for people deceiving themselves that they’re reading something Biblical.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Gore, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

mr_d8a's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

It is a very dark book, but by the end there is hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Well worth the read, if you can stand the first two-thirds of tense life story.

anna_iz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

ashdawn's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a hard and dark book, it made me cry and I am not okay. But it was SOOOOOO GOOD. 

Done through a very solid understanding/retelling of the book of Hosea, it deals with a lot of hard topics and trauma, and redemption and healing. It was so beautiful, and spoke to my heart. I honestly can't believe it took me this long to read it after having it be recommended by a friend years ago.

That being said, though I wouldn't say there are graphic details, there is a lot of mentions of very adult themes like sex trafficking. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

amhall11's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder

bibliophilola97's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Abortion and Pregnancy