Reviews tagging 'Violence'

La maîtresse de Rome by Catherine Barret, Kate Quinn

17 reviews

tiredenglishteacher's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.75

This is a classic Kate Quinn in that it has a very lengthy exposition, takes a long time to get going, and feels at times confused about the ultimate plot BUT the last 100 pages were very exciting and engaging. Unfortunately you have to plow through a lot of seemingly random exposition to get there. Middle dragged on forever. Gory. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Antisemitism

snowsnakes's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death

sea_tea_books's review against another edition

I was looking for more historical information to learn something about ancient Rome. This focuses too much on

gore and rape

. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Sexual harassment

halkid2's review against another edition

challenging informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

MISTRESS OF ROME turned out to be an unexpected and very pleasant surprise! Too often I gravitate to historical fiction about people and eras I know quite well. But the Roman Empire is not familiar territory and that made reading this novel a delightfully engaging experience. Awarded four stars but I'd probably go as high as 4.5. 

This is the first book in author Kate Quinn's five-novel series entitled The Empress of Rome -- about Rome during the first century of the Common Era. Drawing on a mix of actual historical figures and fictional creations, Quinn has crafted a completely absorbing story with all the elements you could want in a good read. Cruelty, corruption, and vexing moral conundrums. Old grudges, ambitious rivals, secret plots, Vestal Virgins, and sexual obsession. Superhuman gladiators, masters and slaves, spite, and illicit love affairs. 

Main characters include:

• Roman Emperor Domitian (51-96): a talented administration with a private cruel streak.

• Thea (fictitious): one of the few Jews to survive the mass suicide at Masada, now enslaved and considered a talented singer. 

• Arius (fictitious): a brutal gladiator forced to perform at the Colosseum games, whose success grows out of his ability to harness his deeply rooted anger.  

• Lepida Pollia (fictitious): a spoiled heiress whose older husband/Senator buys Thea to be his wife's personal attendant.

The book revolves around how all four of these characters (and a few others) interrelate over the years, as fate causes them to leave and return to each other's orbit. All of them wielding different levels of power at different moments in their lives. 

I loved this chance to become immersed in the complex politics of the Roman Empire. Now, having thoroughly enjoyed MISTRESS OF ROME, I do plan to continue with the other books in this series. And I look forward to them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

vesper93's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

A bit of a slow start as you wonder how all the separate characters are going to intertwine, but then becomes gripping. I didn't want to put it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Was absolutely jonesing for Lepida to die throughout 2/3rds of the book. She was SO horrible!! Was so glad when she got her comeuppance

kduffy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative tense medium-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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Murder

protovulcan's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

4.5

definitely a book i couldn't put down once i started reading. lots of character death, and towards the end some made me tear up. 
i hate paulinus almost as much as lepida, especially at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Incest

megan_mac_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

3.25

Whew, this book is way more violent than I'm use to reading. I could have done without the violence and gore, and there were some characters I abs lutely hated, but still was invested in the story and some characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Incest and Suicide

Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

lehughes19's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

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

4.5

Page turner. I actually picked it up previously and couldn’t get into it, but this time I couldn’t put it down! It was shocking, entertaining, and emotion provoking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, and Mental illness

kamrynkoble's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this one. It’s my first novel set in Ancient Rome, and I loved the setting. I’ve been to Rome and the coliseum which only made it more special.

I found myself rooting for these characters, and truly hoping they would get what they wanted. I feel attached to them, especially Thea, after watching her endure so much over the span of many years. I love a book that can make me do that. 

I also enjoyed the multiple POVS. All of the different characters took me a second to understand, but I was impressed by how the author managed to weave them all in. This is such a high-stakes setting that I was on the edge of my seat often. 

The ending was particularly good. One “twist” made me turn my head away and cover my mouth in shock. The rest was so tightly plotted from there, and I liked that this had such a good resolution chapter. 

I’ll definitely read more from this author!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, and Slavery

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Pregnancy