Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Du bout des doigts by Sarah Waters

36 reviews

erynlasbelin's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

5.0

There aren't enough stars for this book. The writing is gorgeous: the historical elements are well done, the atmosphere is vivid, and the two protagonists have such distinct voices. All the primary characters are complex, realistic, frustrating, sympathetic - even the villains. And the twists! I can't remember the last time a novel kept me on the edge of my seat like this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Ableism, Child death, and Sexual content

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, and Homophobia

vagrantheather's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

Absolutely adored everything about this Victorian con artist story.

It was sold to me as a lesbian romance. I would not bill it that way lol; there is a bit of a romance but this is not a romance book. It has one sex scene, which is not explicit.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Physical abuse, Outing, Lesbophobia, Violence, Murder, and Mental illness

Minor: Blood

talonsontypewriters'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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Torture, Violence, Death, Murder, Gaslighting, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, and Ableism

Moderate: Self harm, Blood, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Grief, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia

Minor: Child death, Animal death, Eating disorder, Incest, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Racism

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The setting and the characters shine in this. It feels very Sweeney Todd, dark and dirty London. The characters are well-rounded, surprising, likeable, and compelling.
I wasn't on board with the perspective change mid-book during reading it but now recognize the complexity it allowed the book to portray.
It really kept me guessing and kept me invested in Sue's and Maud's life. The twists and turns and the character development had me picturing this as a movie in my mind.
It's really giving on so many fronts: there's a queer love story, a betrayal plot, a mystery, mistaken identities, an asylum, a murder.
This is definitely for fans of Frannie Langton and Sally Lockhart.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse, Medical trauma, Confinement, Alcohol, Classism, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Transphobia

auri_underthing's review against another edition

The book was good but so incredibly slow I gave up. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

anacereading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia

Minor: Vomit

punchofwishes's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.5

What a read! This book alternated between having me firmly in its grasp and leaving me bored 100 pages at a time. The twists are interesting and the plot compelling even if the characters aren’t as much. It’s a difficult read that I am glad to have experienced even if it wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Mental illness

kpwxx's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Outing, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Dementia, Deportation, Stalking, Abortion, and Eating disorder

arijones91's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse

bruisedtigers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely enamoured with this. 

I understand why some people would find it slow or hard to get through. It did drag in certain spots, and likely could've been edited down. However, I adored all of these characters, the twists and turns, and felt so much of it in my gut. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization