Reviews tagging 'Rape'

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

16 reviews

julie_schoenberger's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racism, Rape, and War

coldheartedbirch's review

adventurous 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

absolutely loved this!!

thought to myself when i saw it on the shelf “alright but the DNA tests though……” but i figured it’d be interesting to read and learn about anna anderson and i’m so glad i did! 

while a lot of people probably wouldn’t like the non-chronological arrangement, i personally loved it! the tension as the beginning and end of the story worked towards their mutual conclusion made it impossible to put the book down. 

you really get swept up and even knowing how things work out in history doesn’t stop you from wanting to know how the book works out, even as half of the story unfolds in reverse. 

lawhon does an incredible job at conveying the mental anguish caused by the trauma over time to all of the characters involved, but especially so for anna/anastasia. lawhon’s characterization is such a mentally strong, intelligent, indignant, and Sharp woman! was captivated the entire read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Minor: Rape and Antisemitism

there's not a tag for this but also: forced adoption.

marusmill's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

Moderate: Rape

frenchfrybri's review

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Rape

caitrisriding's review

3.5

This book was interesting. 

I have always loved the Disney story of Anastasia and been intrigued as I grew about the actual history of the family. I quite enjoyed the storytelling of Anastasia of this in the past. I didn’t enjoy the story telling set later of Anna Anderson. I just didn’t like her character much. The way the story was set up with going backwards for her story was a bit confusing for me at times. As I got to the later half of the 2nd part & the 3rd part I did start to enjoy Anna’s chapters more and get more interested in her side of the story though. 

The book definitely got better and more intriguing as I read on. I felt like it was a pretty good ending. 

*This story involves war and revolution and has some hard topics discussing; killing, rape, vomiting, etc. So be wary going into it if you have a hard time with any of that stuff.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and War

crystalsparkles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

I told you so

I love the way this is written, from present to past. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

temperamentalprotagonist's review

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Classism

Minor: Pregnancy

evawondergem's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual violence

bluebell4's review

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

Broke my heart a million times over 💔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt

1721egp's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Warning: Some spoilers may be concluded if you are not already familiar with the history and discussion surrounding Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson.

Start to finish, I was ENTHRALLED. I stumbled upon this title in the "suggestions" of Audible and decided to give it a try. I actually initially thought it was a biography comparing Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson until a few chapters in.

I realized what Ms. Lawhon was doing with the timelines about halfway through, and truly, this IS the best way to tell this story.

She nailed it - you hold out hope until the last few pages, just as Anna Anderson's supporters did. Like them, you don't know what to believe, even if you're familiar with the legend of Anastasia. Only this style could have given us such an experience. Ms. Lawhon tells the stories of these two lives in such a way that is unbiased until the end, allowing you to draw your own conclusions.

Every little detail circles back around. The things you don't think matter end up being key pieces. In fact, I need to read it again just to see what l missed the first time around.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War