Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

16 reviews

sandysmith's review

adventurous dark emotional informative 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? Yes

3.5

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader.  A story of Alfred and Ahtred. Historical fiction (Saxons). Ahtred is born in the 9th century  and orphaned at 10. Captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the viking ways. Could to Alfred King of Wessex who survives a Danish assault. The struggles between the English and the Danes, Christianity versus paganism. Marriage ties him to the saxons, so he fights against the Danes who adopted him. So very far out of my comfort zone, picked as a bookclub choice that I would never had chosen for myself but I ended up enjoying it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Rape, and War

Moderate: Blood, Slavery, and Miscarriage

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad 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? Yes

4.0

The first half of the book wasn’t as compelling as the second - I like all the battles! But it provided necessary background on Uhtred’s complicated relationship with the Danes who kidnapped him, but whom he loved. 

The English were awfully tedious compared to the Danes - only interested in living a pious and studious life. The Danes were warriors, and their interests were drinking, whoring, and fighting. They’d fight each other if no enemies were available. They definitely had a lot more fun than the dour English, and Uhtred was much happier with Ragnar and his warriors than he’d ever been with his own family. The parts with Ragnar were the strongest because of the bond between him and Uhtred. 

Uhtred’s coming of age among the Danes was much more interesting than when he was forced back to Alfred and his priests. The details of life amongst the warriors were intriguing such as the love the Danes had for their ships. Overall a riveting tale of an obscure period of English history. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Grief, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, War, Kidnapping, and Violence

kkopacetic's review

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape

hannog's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

tiptoes12's review

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, and War

ellen_suth's review

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

Minor: Slavery

motherbeetle's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Rape

tmickey's review

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, Violence, War, Alcohol, Blood, Vomit, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Cursing, Excrement, Slavery, Colonisation, and Chronic illness

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

ruthmoog's review

adventurous informative inspiring mysterious fast-paced

4.75

I've seen the TV series and it was great to jump back into the world with the book. Cornwell's writing is always gripping, though gritty and 'manly', it's enjoyable and fast paced for the number of pages too.
I have never been so tempted to shout "SHIELD WALL!!" along with a book 😎

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Animal death, Religious bigotry, War, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Confinement, Gore, Sexism, and Sexual violence

sheriffseraph's review

adventurous challenging dark tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Miscarriage, and Rape