Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

18 reviews

jesselynn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

A very emotive and dramatic story set in and around Strasbourg in 1518, at the time of the infamous Dancing Plague.

We follow Lisbet, a heavily pregnant young woman who keeps bees alongside her husband and mother-in-law. Lisbet is desperate for her unborn child's survival, due to multiple previous miscarriages, which wounds her and familial relationships deeply. When her husband's sister Agnethe returns from seven years in the mountains atoning for a mysterious sin, the path of her life is forever changed.

The content is very emotionally stimulating, with really moving and detailed language and a narrative that is very centred around Lisbet's feelings and emotional state. The cast of characters are interesting, with Lisbet's sister-in-law Nethe being a favourite of mine. The story explores a very harrowing sapphic relationship, as well as themes of religious fervour, immigration and xenophobia. The story is not an account of the Dancing Plague as such, but the events of the summer and strange event are an atmospheric setting, the rhythm of the dance weaved throughout Lisbet's story in interludes. The novel is much more character focused than a simple retelling, which I liked. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially women's historical fiction. Tread carefully if pregnancy, infertility and miscarriage is a trigger point for you. 

Thanks to Picador for the reading copy in exchange for an honest review. I'll definitely be recommending this one to my customers and am looking forward to future works from Kiran Millwood Hargrave!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

mxrumphius's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Infidelity

lucyhcurtis's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

Fell in love with Kiran's writing after reading The Mercies and this was also completely mesmerizing. An emotional and at times devastating story, it will really stay with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

Minor: Animal death

rozereads's review against another edition

hopeful reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

josiee's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

nicoles_reading_corner's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

thealienamongus's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual content

carolinb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal death and Murder