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The Violence
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Horror (2022)
A mysterious plague that causes random bouts of violence is sweeping the nation. Now three generations of women must navigate their chilling new reality in this moving exploration of identity, cycles of abuse, and hope.
Chelsea Martin appears to be the perfect housewife: married to her high school sweetheart, the mother of two daughters, keeper of an immaculate home.
But Chelsea's husband has turned their house into a prison; he has been abusing her for years, cutting off her independence, autonomy, and support. She has nowhere to turn, not even to her narcissistic mother, Patricia, who is more concerned with maintaining the appearance of an ideal family than she is with her daughter's actual well-being. And Chelsea is worried that her daughters will be trapped just as she is--then a mysterious illness sweeps the nation.
Known as The Violence, this illness causes the infected to experience sudden, explosive bouts of animalistic rage and attack anyone in their path. But for Chelsea, the chaos and confusion the virus causes is an opportunity--and inspires a plan to liberate herself from her abuser.
Chelsea Martin appears to be the perfect housewife: married to her high school sweetheart, the mother of two daughters, keeper of an immaculate home.
But Chelsea's husband has turned their house into a prison; he has been abusing her for years, cutting off her independence, autonomy, and support. She has nowhere to turn, not even to her narcissistic mother, Patricia, who is more concerned with maintaining the appearance of an ideal family than she is with her daughter's actual well-being. And Chelsea is worried that her daughters will be trapped just as she is--then a mysterious illness sweeps the nation.
Known as The Violence, this illness causes the infected to experience sudden, explosive bouts of animalistic rage and attack anyone in their path. But for Chelsea, the chaos and confusion the virus causes is an opportunity--and inspires a plan to liberate herself from her abuser.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2022
About the author
Delilah S. Dawson
149 books2,111 followersDelilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy's Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.
Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.
Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,626 reviews
June 21, 2022
Violence scares the daylights of me! Especially that ominous opening at the grocery story is a quiet decision maker scene for you: you can get hooked up and dive into the well written, chaotic madness or you give up and choose a lighter book don’t disturb your entire mental state!
I have to admit I’m the one get hooked! So I keep on my reading journey!
Three women of the family: a mother, two daughters build a quite brilliant of happy family image. Chelsea Martin- the mother lives at a perfect home, playing the role of perfect mother, homemaker, wife but behind the close doors nothing as it seems. David- the father of the family always likes to get his way: if he doesn’t : the chaos knocks the door! Chelsea and their seventeen years old Ella know it from the experience. They have been manipulated, harassed for years and they have no one to help or support, isolated from outside, trapped in abusive relationship. Chelsea’s ultra narcissistic mother Patricia rejects to see what’s her daughter dealing with. She likes to see things from her own perspective, living in a safe cocoon without taking any responsibilities!
But things are gonna change because now outside world is also as threatening as their home! A mysterious epidemic pushes inner violence out of the people by turning them vicious murderers! Nowhere is safe! Could Chelsea turn this outbreak into her own benefit to help herself and daughters Ella and Brooklyn to fight against her abusive husband.
Firstly this is more than epidemic apocalypse scenario: it’s mostly about women’s evolving, changing when the violent threats knock their door. They both have to act differently to survive and they test their endurance to see how far they can go!
It was truly soul crushing, shocking, unique, one of a kind plot they definitely terrifies and affects you deeply but you cannot put it down even though the things you read hard to digest!
I’m giving my standing up women, fighting against abuse and violence, apocalyptic, eerie, dark and intense four stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballentine’s for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I have to admit I’m the one get hooked! So I keep on my reading journey!
Three women of the family: a mother, two daughters build a quite brilliant of happy family image. Chelsea Martin- the mother lives at a perfect home, playing the role of perfect mother, homemaker, wife but behind the close doors nothing as it seems. David- the father of the family always likes to get his way: if he doesn’t : the chaos knocks the door! Chelsea and their seventeen years old Ella know it from the experience. They have been manipulated, harassed for years and they have no one to help or support, isolated from outside, trapped in abusive relationship. Chelsea’s ultra narcissistic mother Patricia rejects to see what’s her daughter dealing with. She likes to see things from her own perspective, living in a safe cocoon without taking any responsibilities!
But things are gonna change because now outside world is also as threatening as their home! A mysterious epidemic pushes inner violence out of the people by turning them vicious murderers! Nowhere is safe! Could Chelsea turn this outbreak into her own benefit to help herself and daughters Ella and Brooklyn to fight against her abusive husband.
Firstly this is more than epidemic apocalypse scenario: it’s mostly about women’s evolving, changing when the violent threats knock their door. They both have to act differently to survive and they test their endurance to see how far they can go!
It was truly soul crushing, shocking, unique, one of a kind plot they definitely terrifies and affects you deeply but you cannot put it down even though the things you read hard to digest!
I’m giving my standing up women, fighting against abuse and violence, apocalyptic, eerie, dark and intense four stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballentine’s for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 30, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Delilah Dawson for a gifted copy of this book! Now available as of 2.1, and now in paperback!**
Once in a while, I grab a book SOLELY based on its cover, without reading much of a blurb.
Unfortunately, when I have an experience like I did with this book...I remember exactly WHY this can be such a terrible idea.
In a post-COVID world, there is a new deadly threat: The Violence. What is it? A disease, spread by mosquito, that takes the infected from 0-60 and leaves them in a blackout-type state where they demolish whatever or whoever stands in their way. Chelsea Martin, mother to teenage daughter Ella and 5 year old Brooklyn, has been desperate to keep life moving forward safely for her family, as her husband David is a chronic abuser who has left her feeling like she has little left to call her own. She would do anything to break free and end the reign of terror in her home, and her mother Patricia knows this, but is too entrenched in her own social climb to care. As The Violence becomes more prevalent across the nation, an idea strikes Chelsea and sets forth a chain of events set to change life for these women forever. But when their swift removal from reality as they know it leaves all of our protagonists adrift, can they avoid The Violence...and escape from David, once and for all?
I struggled to get through this one for almost two weeks, and here are some of the reasons why it took me SO long to finish:
*The Violence is essentially one giant Trigger Warning. Dawson warns you of this from the start, which is much appreciated, because this book truly runs the gamut from physical abuse to animal abuse to sexual abuse. If there's one thing Dawson does well, it's making the icky parts very icky. She did write this from a place of healing from personal trauma, which is admirable, but the animal abuse portions are INCREDIBLY graphic, and while that sort of thing isn't normally enough to bother me, in this case I felt actually sick to my stomach.
*COVID Fatigue. Honestly, I did a word count on this when I finished and was sure it was more, but the word COVID appears in this book 35 times. That might not sound like a lot, but The Violence was ALWAYS mentioned in reference to the 'previous' pandemic. This might work reading this years from now, but right now it felt ridiculous to have to be 'reminded' of things people did during COVID while we are...still doing them. I think a couple references here and there would have been fine, but this 500 page tome could have easily been cut down if some of this talk was eliminated.
*Character building. I wanted to like these characters...I really did. I certainly felt sympathetic towards Chelsea at the onset, but as the book went on, all of the characters introduced seemed to fall into stereotypes that felt unrealistic. Youngest daughter Brooklyn's dialogue in particular just felt very off to me.
*The Violence couldn't decide what to be. I always struggle when a book claims to be one genre and reads like another, and that was certainly the case here. I picked up this book looking for horror, and found practically none. A few gruesome bits, absolutely, but no true horror. This was sort of a bizarre family drama in an dystopian-type world, and the happy-go-lucky ending felt incredibly out of place to me.
After finally reaching the end of this journey, I have now capped ANY reading of books related to pandemics, COVID, and the like. In this case, real life has proven to be scary enough. While this book might strike an emotional or pulse-pounding chord with other readers, 496 pages later I am thoroughly relieved to be able to leave THIS particular pandemic firmly in the past.
3 stars
Once in a while, I grab a book SOLELY based on its cover, without reading much of a blurb.
Unfortunately, when I have an experience like I did with this book...I remember exactly WHY this can be such a terrible idea.
In a post-COVID world, there is a new deadly threat: The Violence. What is it? A disease, spread by mosquito, that takes the infected from 0-60 and leaves them in a blackout-type state where they demolish whatever or whoever stands in their way. Chelsea Martin, mother to teenage daughter Ella and 5 year old Brooklyn, has been desperate to keep life moving forward safely for her family, as her husband David is a chronic abuser who has left her feeling like she has little left to call her own. She would do anything to break free and end the reign of terror in her home, and her mother Patricia knows this, but is too entrenched in her own social climb to care. As The Violence becomes more prevalent across the nation, an idea strikes Chelsea and sets forth a chain of events set to change life for these women forever. But when their swift removal from reality as they know it leaves all of our protagonists adrift, can they avoid The Violence...and escape from David, once and for all?
I struggled to get through this one for almost two weeks, and here are some of the reasons why it took me SO long to finish:
*The Violence is essentially one giant Trigger Warning. Dawson warns you of this from the start, which is much appreciated, because this book truly runs the gamut from physical abuse to animal abuse to sexual abuse. If there's one thing Dawson does well, it's making the icky parts very icky. She did write this from a place of healing from personal trauma, which is admirable, but the animal abuse portions are INCREDIBLY graphic, and while that sort of thing isn't normally enough to bother me, in this case I felt actually sick to my stomach.
*COVID Fatigue. Honestly, I did a word count on this when I finished and was sure it was more, but the word COVID appears in this book 35 times. That might not sound like a lot, but The Violence was ALWAYS mentioned in reference to the 'previous' pandemic. This might work reading this years from now, but right now it felt ridiculous to have to be 'reminded' of things people did during COVID while we are...still doing them. I think a couple references here and there would have been fine, but this 500 page tome could have easily been cut down if some of this talk was eliminated.
*Character building. I wanted to like these characters...I really did. I certainly felt sympathetic towards Chelsea at the onset, but as the book went on, all of the characters introduced seemed to fall into stereotypes that felt unrealistic. Youngest daughter Brooklyn's dialogue in particular just felt very off to me.
*The Violence couldn't decide what to be. I always struggle when a book claims to be one genre and reads like another, and that was certainly the case here. I picked up this book looking for horror, and found practically none. A few gruesome bits, absolutely, but no true horror. This was sort of a bizarre family drama in an dystopian-type world, and the happy-go-lucky ending felt incredibly out of place to me.
After finally reaching the end of this journey, I have now capped ANY reading of books related to pandemics, COVID, and the like. In this case, real life has proven to be scary enough. While this book might strike an emotional or pulse-pounding chord with other readers, 496 pages later I am thoroughly relieved to be able to leave THIS particular pandemic firmly in the past.
3 stars
August 30, 2023
My thanks to Random House/Del Rey, Delilah S..Dawson and Netgalley. When I first requested this book, I thought it might be one of those that I wouldn't be able to read. The kind that made me so angry that I'd have to stop. Full of triggers and all. Turns out that I was only partially right. Mosty I was annoyed. But, I wasn't yet mad. I really did spend the first 50 pages thinking that this would be some angry feminist garbage. Don't get me wrong, because I'm also an angry feminist. It's all about balance though. This wonderful, messed up tale! I loved it! The plot, people, virus and eventual outcome. Everything. This author is now on my "watch" list.
Past the initial beginning this becomes a story beyond Violence. A losing "loosening" of family. The depth of loss, endings and beginnings.
Utterly fantastic!
Don't miss this!
Past the initial beginning this becomes a story beyond Violence. A losing "loosening" of family. The depth of loss, endings and beginnings.
Utterly fantastic!
Don't miss this!
January 11, 2022
"The first recorded incidence of the Violence occurred as Ruth Belmont of Land O' Lakes, Florida, was putting a tub of mayonnaise in her cart at a warehouse store on Tuesday, April, 15, 2025. The peaceful and highly religious grandmother dropped the mayonnaise, reached for a large glass bottle of Thousand Island dressing, and struck fellow customer, twenty-four year old Melissa Mendoza. Mendoza's toddler sat in the seat of her buggy and watched silently as the elderly woman beat her mother to death with a bottle of dressing. Once Mendoza was dead, Belmont replaced the dressing on the shelf, selected a new bottle, and attempted to continue shopping."
Welcome to the Violence.
The world has just barely gotten through the Covid pandemic when the Violence begins. A mosquito born illness that is not spreadable from person to person but for those that become infected they will have bouts of uncontrollable rage that will lead to the death of any person or animal around them. The problem is that the infected never know when they are about to *storm* which makes being around other people undesirable at best and deadly at worst. After the storm has lifted they have no recollection or memory of what they have done and will continue to go about life as if nothing has happened.
For Chelsea Martin the Violence gives her a means to escape. Married to her high school sweetheart, David, it didn't take her long to realize that her husband is a narcissistic abuser. Belittling her, gaslighting her, slowly removing all resources of availability, and physical harm have all caused Chelsea to shrink in size. Always cowering in the face of her husband. Her teenage daughter Ella has witnessed it all and is terrified of her own father. Sweet five year old Brooklyn still lives in a world of magic, unicorns, and tiaras and Ella will do anything in her power to protect her. So when the Violence begins to unfold Chelsea hatches a plan for her and her daughters to escape to her mothers gated community for safety.
Chelsea knows that her and her mother have not always seen eye to eye. As a single mother to Chelsea she worked night and day, just scraping by, so they could survive and she has never let Chelsea forget it. Now she has remarried to a judge and lives a life of luxury but that has not softened her to her daughter or her granddaughters. When Chelsea comes a calling she is not met with open arms instead she is removed and separated from her daughters.
Be prepared to go on an epic journey from here!
Fantastically written, this will have you biting your nails until the final conclusion. The characters are what will really steal your heart though. I loved Chelsea, Ella, and my favorite Brooklyn. Even all the side characters we meet have stories that will move you. The empathy and compassion they show one another is a reminder that not everyone is awful. That there is still some good in this world. Triggers are everywhere which I guess is obvious in a book called The Violence but what shines through all the horror is the pure hope for a better tomorrow. The love for our fellow humans that so many of us have all but forgotten.
I cannot finish this review without mentioning the authors heartfelt note at the very beginning. She and her mother were victims of domestic abuse that they finally managed to escape. I can only imagine that writing this story had to be therapeutic in so many ways for her and I, for one, am so happy they came out on the other side. My wish for Delilah Dawson is continued success in her writing career and a loving support system. This reader will always have your back! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
Welcome to the Violence.
The world has just barely gotten through the Covid pandemic when the Violence begins. A mosquito born illness that is not spreadable from person to person but for those that become infected they will have bouts of uncontrollable rage that will lead to the death of any person or animal around them. The problem is that the infected never know when they are about to *storm* which makes being around other people undesirable at best and deadly at worst. After the storm has lifted they have no recollection or memory of what they have done and will continue to go about life as if nothing has happened.
For Chelsea Martin the Violence gives her a means to escape. Married to her high school sweetheart, David, it didn't take her long to realize that her husband is a narcissistic abuser. Belittling her, gaslighting her, slowly removing all resources of availability, and physical harm have all caused Chelsea to shrink in size. Always cowering in the face of her husband. Her teenage daughter Ella has witnessed it all and is terrified of her own father. Sweet five year old Brooklyn still lives in a world of magic, unicorns, and tiaras and Ella will do anything in her power to protect her. So when the Violence begins to unfold Chelsea hatches a plan for her and her daughters to escape to her mothers gated community for safety.
Chelsea knows that her and her mother have not always seen eye to eye. As a single mother to Chelsea she worked night and day, just scraping by, so they could survive and she has never let Chelsea forget it. Now she has remarried to a judge and lives a life of luxury but that has not softened her to her daughter or her granddaughters. When Chelsea comes a calling she is not met with open arms instead she is removed and separated from her daughters.
Be prepared to go on an epic journey from here!
Fantastically written, this will have you biting your nails until the final conclusion. The characters are what will really steal your heart though. I loved Chelsea, Ella, and my favorite Brooklyn. Even all the side characters we meet have stories that will move you. The empathy and compassion they show one another is a reminder that not everyone is awful. That there is still some good in this world. Triggers are everywhere which I guess is obvious in a book called The Violence but what shines through all the horror is the pure hope for a better tomorrow. The love for our fellow humans that so many of us have all but forgotten.
I cannot finish this review without mentioning the authors heartfelt note at the very beginning. She and her mother were victims of domestic abuse that they finally managed to escape. I can only imagine that writing this story had to be therapeutic in so many ways for her and I, for one, am so happy they came out on the other side. My wish for Delilah Dawson is continued success in her writing career and a loving support system. This reader will always have your back! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
March 5, 2022
One random day in the future, in a supermarket a woman picks up a value size container of thousand island dressing, caved in a stranger's head with it, and calmly went back to shopping. It is The Violence. A new disease carried by mosquitos that turns a normal person into a homicidal manic. Once the rage passes, the person has no memory of what happened. We are following three generations of women and their struggle to survive. When your world turns upside down and the person next to you can murder you without warning, how do you find safety?
This was a great read. I was fully invested in the characters from the start. I wanted them to survive and get out of situations they were in. It was wonderful watching these women find their voice in a messed up world. Recommend!
I had to rewrite this review because I put trigger warnings in my original post. Apparently someone marked it as spoilers 🙄🤨
This was a great read. I was fully invested in the characters from the start. I wanted them to survive and get out of situations they were in. It was wonderful watching these women find their voice in a messed up world. Recommend!
I had to rewrite this review because I put trigger warnings in my original post. Apparently someone marked it as spoilers 🙄🤨
February 9, 2022
"In violence, we forget who we are." -Mary McCarthy
Well, well, well, what do we have here? This book was a gem - a very violent gem! You need the stomach for it, but if you have it, you will most likely enjoy this one. A plague which causes random bouts of blackout violence is sweeping across the nation. If you have it, you must turn yourself and be sent to quarantine.
Chelsea Martin is married to her high school sweetheart. They have two daughters and looking in from the outside, things look copasetic. But their house is not a happy one. Chelsea and her oldest daughter, Ella walk on eggshells. Her husband is abusive and has controlled everything in her life. Then a terrible, horrible illness begins to sweep the nation...
Chelsea turns to her image-is-the-most-important-thing mother, Patricia for help. Most mothers would be sympathetic. Most would open their doors with open arms. Patricia is not like most mothers.
The synopsis drew me in and after reading a couple of pages, I was onboard but put this aside to finish some other books, when I came back to reading this, I was reminded how much I enjoyed the first few pages. AS the pages move along, one might think "too soon" after Covid, as well as seeing similarities - quarantine, masks, vaccine, etc. I didn't mind and enjoyed how this book went a little over the top at times. Am I the only one who got vibes of The Walking Dead and Contagion while reading this?
I found this book to be well written, compelling, entertaining, and hard to put down. There are some things in her which will be difficult to read -domestic violence, harm to animals, and violent attacks. Again, not everyone is going to be able to stomach this book.
This was such a well thought out and executed book. It's slightly over 500 pages but this book never felt long. While reading, I kept thinking "this would make a great movie!"
Gripping. Violent. Hard to put down.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Well, well, well, what do we have here? This book was a gem - a very violent gem! You need the stomach for it, but if you have it, you will most likely enjoy this one. A plague which causes random bouts of blackout violence is sweeping across the nation. If you have it, you must turn yourself and be sent to quarantine.
Chelsea Martin is married to her high school sweetheart. They have two daughters and looking in from the outside, things look copasetic. But their house is not a happy one. Chelsea and her oldest daughter, Ella walk on eggshells. Her husband is abusive and has controlled everything in her life. Then a terrible, horrible illness begins to sweep the nation...
Chelsea turns to her image-is-the-most-important-thing mother, Patricia for help. Most mothers would be sympathetic. Most would open their doors with open arms. Patricia is not like most mothers.
The synopsis drew me in and after reading a couple of pages, I was onboard but put this aside to finish some other books, when I came back to reading this, I was reminded how much I enjoyed the first few pages. AS the pages move along, one might think "too soon" after Covid, as well as seeing similarities - quarantine, masks, vaccine, etc. I didn't mind and enjoyed how this book went a little over the top at times. Am I the only one who got vibes of The Walking Dead and Contagion while reading this?
I found this book to be well written, compelling, entertaining, and hard to put down. There are some things in her which will be difficult to read -domestic violence, harm to animals, and violent attacks. Again, not everyone is going to be able to stomach this book.
This was such a well thought out and executed book. It's slightly over 500 pages but this book never felt long. While reading, I kept thinking "this would make a great movie!"
Gripping. Violent. Hard to put down.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 15, 2022
DNF @ 31%. I tried with this one. I really did. But it just got downright ridiculous. A pandemic that causes violence... I can kinda follow that (despite the graphic killing of a family pet that was really a bit much). However, with basically every female character being the victim of domestic violence, it became a little more far-fetched. Still though, I persisted. When the main character decides to join a WWE-esque fighting ring for infected persons, I just couldn't continue any longer. How crazy is that scenario? I was literally shaking my head in disbelief as I read. Do yourself a favor and PASS on this one.
June 14, 2022
THIS COVER THOUGH!
Best cover of the year. Hands down.
I really enjoyed the concept but it wasn't executed well.
This is 5 years after Corona has been eradicated. But there's no chance for peace because a new virus is spreading through mosquitos. It causes people to black out and kill whoever's around them.
The plot is there and the potential is vast but I feel like it focused on a lot of unnecessary asides.
The wrestling storyline was absurd in honesty and didn't serve the plot.
The focus on abused women using The Violence as a way to escape their abusers was a great touch.
The pop culture references were too abundant but also irrelevant. She mentioned Glow, the Netflix series. Which was cancelled a year before the release of this book. In a few years, people will be reading this book and be confused on what she’s referencing. That’s a little too niche.
The grandma gets a personality transplant and all of a sudden we're supposed to care about her? I would have cared about her if she hadn't been an A+ c*nt in the first half of the book. You can't come back from the things she did and said in my opinion.
Best cover of the year. Hands down.
I really enjoyed the concept but it wasn't executed well.
This is 5 years after Corona has been eradicated. But there's no chance for peace because a new virus is spreading through mosquitos. It causes people to black out and kill whoever's around them.
The plot is there and the potential is vast but I feel like it focused on a lot of unnecessary asides.
The wrestling storyline was absurd in honesty and didn't serve the plot.
The focus on abused women using The Violence as a way to escape their abusers was a great touch.
The pop culture references were too abundant but also irrelevant. She mentioned Glow, the Netflix series. Which was cancelled a year before the release of this book. In a few years, people will be reading this book and be confused on what she’s referencing. That’s a little too niche.
The grandma gets a personality transplant and all of a sudden we're supposed to care about her? I would have cared about her if she hadn't been an A+ c*nt in the first half of the book. You can't come back from the things she did and said in my opinion.
January 31, 2022
Just what the world needs after ending a pandemic, another pandemic! That’s what the author gives us in The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson. The Violence is a thrilling horror story that changes the point of view along the way to give different character views. It also is one that needs a trigger warning for violence and abuse of both humans and animals.
On the outside Chelsea Martin is one that seems to have the perfect life, a stay at home mother of two beautiful girls and a “loving” husband. Of course appearances can be deceiving. Chelsea learned quickly that money can’t buy happiness when her husband began to quietly control her.
Chelsea also doesn’t have that great a relationship with her mother so when Patricia stops by Chelsea only counts the seconds until she leaves barely hearing the news of the violent event that took place nearby. However, when more and more violence happens seeming to come from a new pandemic Chelsea wonders if this is her way out to find safety for her and her daughters.
So again I found myself intrigued by another shiny cover and wondering if the story would be anything I would actually like. Well it’s safe to say I did enjoy this one with my rating of four and a half stars. The story is definitely not for everyone as you see with the trigger warning and it did get gruesome and cringeworthy in some parts but I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. It’s a bit over the top and I could have done without the political jabs but it was also extremely entertaining so if this sounds up your alley give it a try!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
On the outside Chelsea Martin is one that seems to have the perfect life, a stay at home mother of two beautiful girls and a “loving” husband. Of course appearances can be deceiving. Chelsea learned quickly that money can’t buy happiness when her husband began to quietly control her.
Chelsea also doesn’t have that great a relationship with her mother so when Patricia stops by Chelsea only counts the seconds until she leaves barely hearing the news of the violent event that took place nearby. However, when more and more violence happens seeming to come from a new pandemic Chelsea wonders if this is her way out to find safety for her and her daughters.
So again I found myself intrigued by another shiny cover and wondering if the story would be anything I would actually like. Well it’s safe to say I did enjoy this one with my rating of four and a half stars. The story is definitely not for everyone as you see with the trigger warning and it did get gruesome and cringeworthy in some parts but I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. It’s a bit over the top and I could have done without the political jabs but it was also extremely entertaining so if this sounds up your alley give it a try!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 12, 2022
Wow. This book was totally different than I thought it would be when I read about “The Violence Virus” in the synopsis. I thought this would be a campy horror about a funny/gory disease and women getting back at the abusers in their life in creative ways. That would have been a good book, but I was completely wrong about what this novel was really about. This wasn’t good - it was great.
Set in the near future (2022? 2023? Hopefully not…) this is the world right after Covid. Everyone is weary, the economy is still doing horribly, but people are starting to try to get back to life as normal. Then comes a new pandemic: The Violence. Spread by mosquitoes, it is asymptomatic until the infected person blacks out and kills. Beloved pets, children, and spouses are not immune to being killed by their owners, parents or partners. Once they kill, the person snaps out of their trance, and are horrified by what they’ve done. The police aren’t even arresting people, because it’s completely involuntary (and it’s easy to tell the difference between people killed “normally” or people killed by someone with The Violence).
There is a vaccine, but the same president who bungled the Covid pandemic is back in power, so Americans are helpless. Some of the very wealthy can get the vaccine at $30,000 a dose, but the government is once again failing the common man. It’s like living the past two years over again, as lockdowns and curfews are back, mosquito spray and toilet paper are impossible to find, and some states (*coughFloridacough*) are refusing to take measures to stop the virus and the killing.
I know. I KNOW! It sounds like a campy ‘80s horror novel, right? Wrong. In a letter to the readers, the author touches on her personal experience with domestic violence, and I think this book was written to help heal herself. We meet three generations of women also dealing with different forms of abuse, and they are characters who change this book into something much more thoughtful than another pandemic creating brutal killers.
Patricia is mother to Chelsea, who is mother to Ella (and 5-year-old Brooklyn, my favorite character in the book). Patricia was once in a physically abusive relationship, but she got out and married a very wealthy man … who immediately starts emotionally and financially abusing her. While raising Chelsea, Patricia continued/projected the emotional abuse onto her child, but Chelsea was able to break the pattern with her daughters. Unfortunately though, Chelsea’s husband turned out to be a wife beater as well, so her teenage daughter, Ella, is now in an abusive relationship, and thus the cycle continues…
When the horror element with the new virus and the dramatic element about broken people combine, they make an incredibly thoughtful book. The horror has zero cheese, and somehow the author was able to write this in a very realistic way. Somehow, it didn’t feel implausible. How she combined two very different genres into something entertaining, heart-wrenching and beautiful is quite impressive. I think most authors wouldn’t have been able to pull this off without one of the aspects getting shortchanged.
There were a couple tiny, tiny things that I didn’t like, so maybe I’d rate this a 4.5 if that was possible. It’s definitely worthy of more than four stars though, so this gets a rare five stars from me. I was totally caught off guard by this book, in the best way possible.
(Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delilah S. Dawson, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Set in the near future (2022? 2023? Hopefully not…) this is the world right after Covid. Everyone is weary, the economy is still doing horribly, but people are starting to try to get back to life as normal. Then comes a new pandemic: The Violence. Spread by mosquitoes, it is asymptomatic until the infected person blacks out and kills. Beloved pets, children, and spouses are not immune to being killed by their owners, parents or partners. Once they kill, the person snaps out of their trance, and are horrified by what they’ve done. The police aren’t even arresting people, because it’s completely involuntary (and it’s easy to tell the difference between people killed “normally” or people killed by someone with The Violence).
There is a vaccine, but the same president who bungled the Covid pandemic is back in power, so Americans are helpless. Some of the very wealthy can get the vaccine at $30,000 a dose, but the government is once again failing the common man. It’s like living the past two years over again, as lockdowns and curfews are back, mosquito spray and toilet paper are impossible to find, and some states (*coughFloridacough*) are refusing to take measures to stop the virus and the killing.
I know. I KNOW! It sounds like a campy ‘80s horror novel, right? Wrong. In a letter to the readers, the author touches on her personal experience with domestic violence, and I think this book was written to help heal herself. We meet three generations of women also dealing with different forms of abuse, and they are characters who change this book into something much more thoughtful than another pandemic creating brutal killers.
Patricia is mother to Chelsea, who is mother to Ella (and 5-year-old Brooklyn, my favorite character in the book). Patricia was once in a physically abusive relationship, but she got out and married a very wealthy man … who immediately starts emotionally and financially abusing her. While raising Chelsea, Patricia continued/projected the emotional abuse onto her child, but Chelsea was able to break the pattern with her daughters. Unfortunately though, Chelsea’s husband turned out to be a wife beater as well, so her teenage daughter, Ella, is now in an abusive relationship, and thus the cycle continues…
When the horror element with the new virus and the dramatic element about broken people combine, they make an incredibly thoughtful book. The horror has zero cheese, and somehow the author was able to write this in a very realistic way. Somehow, it didn’t feel implausible. How she combined two very different genres into something entertaining, heart-wrenching and beautiful is quite impressive. I think most authors wouldn’t have been able to pull this off without one of the aspects getting shortchanged.
There were a couple tiny, tiny things that I didn’t like, so maybe I’d rate this a 4.5 if that was possible. It’s definitely worthy of more than four stars though, so this gets a rare five stars from me. I was totally caught off guard by this book, in the best way possible.
(Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delilah S. Dawson, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
December 17, 2021
The Violence
is one of the most violent books I've ever read. Shocker, right?! Well, before we begin, the author has a note about trigger warnings. Just assume literally everything violent is possible in this book. Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are major themes in this book.
That out of the way, this book is epic and quite literally an epic metaphorically depiction of so many current issues facing our society today. The story is focused on the Martin family—Chelsea, her husband David, their two daughters Ella and Brooklyn, and Chelsea's mother Patricia. Living in Florida, news breaks out that a new post-Covid (yeah, this book has Covid topics in it) pandemic has begin to rise. Initially unsure how it begins, they are calling it the Violence—a condition where people "storm" and lose control of their consciousness and express extreme levels of violent tunnel vision towards a target. As the world is grappling in a post-Covid world, the United States is currently dealing with political ploys about how to handle this new pandemic. Chelsea knows that she has to take care of her family, no matter the cost. However, Chelsea's family is also dealing with people who may actually be more chaotic then the Violence.
I cannot believe I just read 500 pages in 24 hours. This doesn't happen much, but when it does, YOU KNOW THE BOOK IS PHEMONENAL. It reads extremely fast for all the content that this book provides. This book uses the Violence as a metaphorical representation of many different themes, but I will let you figure out how it's messaging comes across. Delilah Dawson, WOW, I think you wrote one of my favorite books of 2022!
That out of the way, this book is epic and quite literally an epic metaphorically depiction of so many current issues facing our society today. The story is focused on the Martin family—Chelsea, her husband David, their two daughters Ella and Brooklyn, and Chelsea's mother Patricia. Living in Florida, news breaks out that a new post-Covid (yeah, this book has Covid topics in it) pandemic has begin to rise. Initially unsure how it begins, they are calling it the Violence—a condition where people "storm" and lose control of their consciousness and express extreme levels of violent tunnel vision towards a target. As the world is grappling in a post-Covid world, the United States is currently dealing with political ploys about how to handle this new pandemic. Chelsea knows that she has to take care of her family, no matter the cost. However, Chelsea's family is also dealing with people who may actually be more chaotic then the Violence.
I cannot believe I just read 500 pages in 24 hours. This doesn't happen much, but when it does, YOU KNOW THE BOOK IS PHEMONENAL. It reads extremely fast for all the content that this book provides. This book uses the Violence as a metaphorical representation of many different themes, but I will let you figure out how it's messaging comes across. Delilah Dawson, WOW, I think you wrote one of my favorite books of 2022!
March 18, 2022
Whew! There is so much to unpack with this one!
But I’m not going in to much, I’m just gonna outline my favorite part. The underlying themes of abuse, feminism, hypothetical issues regarding legal, economic, societal etc consequences of the pandemic The Violence could have us here all week! (This would be a great discussion book!)
I was hooked right away, a pandemic after a pandemic? Sign me up! (And as over Covid as I am, this was a big surprise!)
Violence was.. you guessed it, very violent. And SO good. I didn’t love Chelsea’s character all the way through, but I did love growth of other characters. I can’t really expand much in this without spoilers, but, this facet was definitely my favorite part of the book.
But I’m not going in to much, I’m just gonna outline my favorite part. The underlying themes of abuse, feminism, hypothetical issues regarding legal, economic, societal etc consequences of the pandemic The Violence could have us here all week! (This would be a great discussion book!)
I was hooked right away, a pandemic after a pandemic? Sign me up! (And as over Covid as I am, this was a big surprise!)
Violence was.. you guessed it, very violent. And SO good. I didn’t love Chelsea’s character all the way through, but I did love growth of other characters. I can’t really expand much in this without spoilers, but, this facet was definitely my favorite part of the book.
February 6, 2022
This was an interesting read and a mixed bag for me. The book has flashes of true brilliance, and is insanely creative with an awesome and thought-provoking message. Ultimately though the story got a little too bogged down in pandemic zombie-style violence for my tastes. But I enjoyed the intriguing read and am very interested to see what else the author produces.
The book is about a new post-COVID pandemic called The Violence - in which afflicted people suddenly have bursts of terrible brutality, attacking whoever is near. This book was at its very best when it used its sci-fi structure for social commentary. I felt actual chills when a character who had been for years experiencing domestic violence decided to turn her husband in for being afflicted by The Violence - when in reality, her husband was just a regular everyday domestic abuser (which the society in the book, similar to our current one, doesn’t really view as a serious problem, as opposed to a virus). I also really liked what the book had to say about us as a society and how violence is a part of everyday American life. What I didn’t like as well is where the book went plot-wise in the second half. There is also a lot of brutality in the book, which I understand and agree is necessary to make the point the book is making, but also a difficult read at times. Also the focus on the youngest kid, Brooklyn, didn’t work as well for me as the earlier focus on the adult characters.
A very interesting and ambitious effort from a talented writer that didn’t quite work for me plot-wise, but a worthy read and I’ll be extremely interested to see what Delilah Dawson writes next, and will definitely read it. 3.5 stars.
With thanks to Random House, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
The book is about a new post-COVID pandemic called The Violence - in which afflicted people suddenly have bursts of terrible brutality, attacking whoever is near. This book was at its very best when it used its sci-fi structure for social commentary. I felt actual chills when a character who had been for years experiencing domestic violence decided to turn her husband in for being afflicted by The Violence - when in reality, her husband was just a regular everyday domestic abuser (which the society in the book, similar to our current one, doesn’t really view as a serious problem, as opposed to a virus). I also really liked what the book had to say about us as a society and how violence is a part of everyday American life. What I didn’t like as well is where the book went plot-wise in the second half. There is also a lot of brutality in the book, which I understand and agree is necessary to make the point the book is making, but also a difficult read at times. Also the focus on the youngest kid, Brooklyn, didn’t work as well for me as the earlier focus on the adult characters.
A very interesting and ambitious effort from a talented writer that didn’t quite work for me plot-wise, but a worthy read and I’ll be extremely interested to see what Delilah Dawson writes next, and will definitely read it. 3.5 stars.
With thanks to Random House, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
February 6, 2022
The Violence takes the reader on a crazy ride with some most unexpected stops along the way!
As described in the synopsis, the story most certainly involves domestic abuse, both emotional and physical. It portrays the impact of abuse, suffered by three related women, over three generations. We get to see the nature of the relationships between these same women. It allows the reader to see a timeline of abuse, past, present and future. Most uniquely, that timeline is shown all at once through the three women's interactions with each other.
The story also involves a pandemic. A virus that leads people to randomly experience a fury unleashed in almost supernatural levels of violence. Unstoppable in that moment. Ultimately killing the first person within their sights. Only to snap out of it afterwards, with absolutely no memory of the episode.
While I enjoyed this overall. I do wish some plot lines were given more page time in their resolutions, with some that seemed too abrupt to be satisfying. Perhaps, as there are so many pieces included within, it simply wasn't possible to adequately address each one. However, I certainly am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read an incredible book!
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey via NetGalley for the digital reader copy.
As described in the synopsis, the story most certainly involves domestic abuse, both emotional and physical. It portrays the impact of abuse, suffered by three related women, over three generations. We get to see the nature of the relationships between these same women. It allows the reader to see a timeline of abuse, past, present and future. Most uniquely, that timeline is shown all at once through the three women's interactions with each other.
The story also involves a pandemic. A virus that leads people to randomly experience a fury unleashed in almost supernatural levels of violence. Unstoppable in that moment. Ultimately killing the first person within their sights. Only to snap out of it afterwards, with absolutely no memory of the episode.
While I enjoyed this overall. I do wish some plot lines were given more page time in their resolutions, with some that seemed too abrupt to be satisfying. Perhaps, as there are so many pieces included within, it simply wasn't possible to adequately address each one. However, I certainly am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read an incredible book!
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey via NetGalley for the digital reader copy.
June 5, 2022
I literary suffered through the second half of the book. Nothing was happening. NOTHING.
The book started pretty well. We see three generations of women trying to survive The Violence. A plague that causes people to be super violent for a couple of minutes and killing the shit out of people around them. We have Chelsea who's being abused by her husband and we can have a look at how this abuse has affected her daughters' life. And on the other hand we read about the lethargic relationship between Chelsea and her own mother.
At the beginning of the book I thought this was gonna be a 4 stars for me but as I read on, the action in the book reduced and reduced until I found myself zoned out during most of this read.
The second half of this book was so bland that even tho I just finished it I can't remember a single thing about it. I rate the books based on their memorability and this book was anything but memorable.
The book started pretty well. We see three generations of women trying to survive The Violence. A plague that causes people to be super violent for a couple of minutes and killing the shit out of people around them. We have Chelsea who's being abused by her husband and we can have a look at how this abuse has affected her daughters' life. And on the other hand we read about the lethargic relationship between Chelsea and her own mother.
At the beginning of the book I thought this was gonna be a 4 stars for me but as I read on, the action in the book reduced and reduced until I found myself zoned out during most of this read.
The second half of this book was so bland that even tho I just finished it I can't remember a single thing about it. I rate the books based on their memorability and this book was anything but memorable.
January 31, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller + Horror
The Violence is a story that takes place in the near future, specifically in 2025 post-COVID pandemic. There is another virus spreading that causes the carrier to be extremely violent. In this world, we follow the lives of three generations of women who have to live during these difficult times and be able to survive this new pandemic.
I like the concept of the book a lot. It is something I have not read in literature before. However, if you are familiar with the video game Tom Clancy’s The Division then there is somehow a similarity between the two concepts where violence becomes the prevailing behavior.
The book is a mixture of horror and thriller. I feel it leans more towards the thriller genre. But that does not mean that there are no scary or horrific moments here and there. It has an atmosphere that makes it something chilling and unpredictable at times. When you start the book the author in the author’s note talks about the abuse she was exposed to and tolerated in real life. That was something important to know giving you a brief background of what she had to go through. Some of the abuse scenes in the story are based on her own experiences.
I appreciated how the author depicted the female characters differently in her book. However, the male characters were all stereotypical and abusive in one way or another be it David (Chelsea’s husband), Hayden (Ella’s boyfriend), Randall (Patricia’s husband), or Chad (David’s friend). That didn’t go well with me. Not all men are bad and abusive. I wish she had made the men in this story more unique. They all felt immoral and wicked which should not be the case. For me, this took some of the realism from the story. Usually, in such cases, I would rate a book lower than a four-star rating but I’d be cheating myself here because despite this huge shortcoming I still enjoyed reading this book a lot.
Keep in mind this book is true to its title. It is full of violence, abuse, sexual abuse, and animal abuse. Just be sure you check the trigger warnings.
Many thanks to the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.
Genre: Mystery Thriller + Horror
The Violence is a story that takes place in the near future, specifically in 2025 post-COVID pandemic. There is another virus spreading that causes the carrier to be extremely violent. In this world, we follow the lives of three generations of women who have to live during these difficult times and be able to survive this new pandemic.
I like the concept of the book a lot. It is something I have not read in literature before. However, if you are familiar with the video game Tom Clancy’s The Division then there is somehow a similarity between the two concepts where violence becomes the prevailing behavior.
The book is a mixture of horror and thriller. I feel it leans more towards the thriller genre. But that does not mean that there are no scary or horrific moments here and there. It has an atmosphere that makes it something chilling and unpredictable at times. When you start the book the author in the author’s note talks about the abuse she was exposed to and tolerated in real life. That was something important to know giving you a brief background of what she had to go through. Some of the abuse scenes in the story are based on her own experiences.
I appreciated how the author depicted the female characters differently in her book. However, the male characters were all stereotypical and abusive in one way or another be it David (Chelsea’s husband), Hayden (Ella’s boyfriend), Randall (Patricia’s husband), or Chad (David’s friend). That didn’t go well with me. Not all men are bad and abusive. I wish she had made the men in this story more unique. They all felt immoral and wicked which should not be the case. For me, this took some of the realism from the story. Usually, in such cases, I would rate a book lower than a four-star rating but I’d be cheating myself here because despite this huge shortcoming I still enjoyed reading this book a lot.
Keep in mind this book is true to its title. It is full of violence, abuse, sexual abuse, and animal abuse. Just be sure you check the trigger warnings.
Many thanks to the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.
April 24, 2024
3.5 stars
A domestic abuse survivor tale featuring pandemic rage plague, generational trauma, and underground pro-wrestling (yes, you read that last part right).
I actually enjoyed the story, although there was absolutely nothing subtle about it. The abuse was clearly and exceptionally personal, and I applaud the author for sharing her own lived experiences. The book is populated by familiar character types that at times approach caricature territory. But that said, I liked the exploration of family dynamics and individual experiences.
Dawson has an easy to read and pacy writing style, which kept things interesting and moving quickly. The abuse survivor story reads a bit like wish fulfillment, but then again, those wishes are pretty understandable.
It seems weird to call a story that features abuse and a rage plague entertaining, but it's clear that's what Dawson intended. A story that is both over the top and also grounded in reality. People can be horrible, but they can also be strong and true, uplifting themselves and others around them.
A domestic abuse survivor tale featuring pandemic rage plague, generational trauma, and underground pro-wrestling (yes, you read that last part right).
I actually enjoyed the story, although there was absolutely nothing subtle about it. The abuse was clearly and exceptionally personal, and I applaud the author for sharing her own lived experiences. The book is populated by familiar character types that at times approach caricature territory. But that said, I liked the exploration of family dynamics and individual experiences.
Dawson has an easy to read and pacy writing style, which kept things interesting and moving quickly. The abuse survivor story reads a bit like wish fulfillment, but then again, those wishes are pretty understandable.
It seems weird to call a story that features abuse and a rage plague entertaining, but it's clear that's what Dawson intended. A story that is both over the top and also grounded in reality. People can be horrible, but they can also be strong and true, uplifting themselves and others around them.
February 1, 2022
This book is personal, and you feel it on every page. It’s a brilliant take on the trauma of abuse and the insidiousness of violence, an inspiring story of self-discovery, resilience and hope, and a page-turning thrill ride that will leave you breathless. Gripping. Chilling. Wildly cathartic.
April 2, 2022
This is a DNF for me. I made it to 50% and then I jumped to the end because this book is so stupidly padded out with crap that I just couldn’t stomach the 200 pages I had left.
And the stupid part is reading those last 20 pages made it perfectly clear that the 200 pages in between were totally unnecessary.
Here’s what I expected this book to be about: The Violence is a pandemic that makes people give in to random violence that leads them to kill the target of their rage. Zombie type horror happens. Chaos ensues (you know like a Steven King novel) and an abused woman sees the opportunity to plot the murder of her abusing husband and get away with it because she had the violence right? That was the book I wanted to read.
The book I actually read is something like a YA novel with more adult themes.
Spoilers ahead:
So in the end I guess it kind was what I wanted it to be about, but with a bunch of boring AF training montages in the middle. Can we just put an end to training montages? In a movie they take like 2 minutes and are relatively harmless. In a book they are long and boring.
I propose we start implementing intermission chapters where it is explicitly stated the character is training and growing stronger and skipping over time because I just don’t give a fuck anymore. I’m sick of them. I’m sick of reading them. I’m sick of books that are 200 pages longer than they need to be. Either give the training purpose and conflict and tension, or kick it the fuck out. I’m not reading them anymore. You heard? I’m done. That shit pissed me off. I wasted my whole Saturday.
But anyway.
I was hoping this would be an empowering read, but honestly it just made me feel sad and depressed. The women in the book are abused and taken advantage of at every turn, including the teenage daughter. The men are overwhelmingly villainous. Even the presumably nice ones call everyone “Honey” and say things like “Good Girl.” There’s no subtlety or nuance.
And despite the amount of abuse these poor girls endured- I found I really didn’t care about them. Which is kind of sad.
Anyway. I do not recommend. On to the next.
And the stupid part is reading those last 20 pages made it perfectly clear that the 200 pages in between were totally unnecessary.
Here’s what I expected this book to be about: The Violence is a pandemic that makes people give in to random violence that leads them to kill the target of their rage. Zombie type horror happens. Chaos ensues (you know like a Steven King novel) and an abused woman sees the opportunity to plot the murder of her abusing husband and get away with it because she had the violence right? That was the book I wanted to read.
The book I actually read is something like a YA novel with more adult themes.
Spoilers ahead:
So in the end I guess it kind was what I wanted it to be about, but with a bunch of boring AF training montages in the middle. Can we just put an end to training montages? In a movie they take like 2 minutes and are relatively harmless. In a book they are long and boring.
I propose we start implementing intermission chapters where it is explicitly stated the character is training and growing stronger and skipping over time because I just don’t give a fuck anymore. I’m sick of them. I’m sick of reading them. I’m sick of books that are 200 pages longer than they need to be. Either give the training purpose and conflict and tension, or kick it the fuck out. I’m not reading them anymore. You heard? I’m done. That shit pissed me off. I wasted my whole Saturday.
But anyway.
I was hoping this would be an empowering read, but honestly it just made me feel sad and depressed. The women in the book are abused and taken advantage of at every turn, including the teenage daughter. The men are overwhelmingly villainous. Even the presumably nice ones call everyone “Honey” and say things like “Good Girl.” There’s no subtlety or nuance.
And despite the amount of abuse these poor girls endured- I found I really didn’t care about them. Which is kind of sad.
Anyway. I do not recommend. On to the next.
June 17, 2022
Be warned this is not for the faint of heart. Before you even pick it up, know that there are lots of trigger warnings for many kinds of abuse and there are lots of references to the pandemic and the effects on the world because of it. If you feel like you can still handle all of that then this book is definitely worth your time.
In this story there is a new pandemic on the rise. Not long after COVID has wreaked havoc on the world. But this pandemic is much much worse and is causing people to do terrible things.
We follow a family of women and watch them as they try to navigate a world that is seemingly falling apart. Our main character is a mother who is trying to protect her children while living in an abusive relationship. This new pandemic might be just the thing to get her out of a marriage that she has been a ghost in for years. But in order to save her and her children, she'll have to put everything she has ever known about herself into question.
We also get the perspective of her 5-year-old daughter and her teenager as well as her narcissistic abusive mother.
This book was so many things. Disgusting, heart-wrenching, suspenseful, but also heartwarming.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I highly recommend it.
In this story there is a new pandemic on the rise. Not long after COVID has wreaked havoc on the world. But this pandemic is much much worse and is causing people to do terrible things.
We follow a family of women and watch them as they try to navigate a world that is seemingly falling apart. Our main character is a mother who is trying to protect her children while living in an abusive relationship. This new pandemic might be just the thing to get her out of a marriage that she has been a ghost in for years. But in order to save her and her children, she'll have to put everything she has ever known about herself into question.
We also get the perspective of her 5-year-old daughter and her teenager as well as her narcissistic abusive mother.
This book was so many things. Disgusting, heart-wrenching, suspenseful, but also heartwarming.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I highly recommend it.
May 18, 2022
I was really nervous about reading The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson after some of the reviews I read, but it turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Despite the pandemic on top of a pandemic aspect, and the descriptive, very terrible things that happen, I could not put this book down! I was completely glued to it, and I had to know what was going to happen next, no matter how bad it was going to be. The story is told from a few different perspectives, but my favorite of all was Chelsea and her daughter Ella. They were of course also my two favorite characters of the book, and while there is much evil that surrounds them, they were both kickass females who never let me down. Triggers abound in this book, and if you are thinking about reading it, I would definitely find out what those are prior to picking up if you have issues with triggers.
The Violence was also INCREDIBLE as an audiobook, and that is how I recommend consuming this dystopian novel. It is relatively long at over 18 hours, but please don't let that scare you! Listening to Hillary Huber narrate legit made me want to listen to everything she has ever narrated, and she was exactly the right choice for the book. There is a ton of violence, gore, and abuse, but what else would you expect from a book about a violent pandemic? The premise is of course pretty unbelievable so you will have to suspend disbelief here, but that was not a problem for me at all. I rather enjoyed the nods to the setting and current president (this is set in the future), and there were some great nuggets of humor mixed in with all the dreadful things. The characters feel real and honestly at times TOO real, and the tension was palpable. I'm so glad I gave The Violence a chance, and if you can handle the content, I hope you do as well.
The Violence was also INCREDIBLE as an audiobook, and that is how I recommend consuming this dystopian novel. It is relatively long at over 18 hours, but please don't let that scare you! Listening to Hillary Huber narrate legit made me want to listen to everything she has ever narrated, and she was exactly the right choice for the book. There is a ton of violence, gore, and abuse, but what else would you expect from a book about a violent pandemic? The premise is of course pretty unbelievable so you will have to suspend disbelief here, but that was not a problem for me at all. I rather enjoyed the nods to the setting and current president (this is set in the future), and there were some great nuggets of humor mixed in with all the dreadful things. The characters feel real and honestly at times TOO real, and the tension was palpable. I'm so glad I gave The Violence a chance, and if you can handle the content, I hope you do as well.
February 10, 2022
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a fantastic horror/SciFi/thriller that analyzes what could happen if another, different kind of pandemic sweeps the world, and how three women living under the specter of domestic abuse can break free and make a better life for themselves. The disease, called The Violence, causes the infected to suddenly blank out and become deadly, viscously violent toward their target. Once the target is eliminated, the person drops out of the episode and has no memory of the attack. The world, suffering from COVID fatigue, initially discounts the disease and doesn't take notice until it has spread like a wildfire through the populace.
The story focuses on three women from one dysfunctional family. Wife and mother Chelsea, who lives a meek, frightened life with a physically and emotionally abusive husband. Ella, her 17 year old daughter who loves her mother but also resents her for not leaving and for having to shield and protect her younger sister. Lastly, Patricia, Chelsea's ruthless and narcissistic mother who cares more about living well and maintaining appearances than her family's well-being. All three women have lived with abuse and been mistreated by those that are suppose to love them the most. The journey each woman takes to heal herself is different, but worth it in the end.
The story sets up the characters lives before The Violence emerges, and then follows them as it affects each of them differently. Chelsea finally finds the courage to break free from her abusive husband, but the toll it takes on her and her family may be too much. The author does a great job of building Chelsea's personality and you can almost feel the claustrophobic and stifling life she leads. The quiet despair and self-loathing is hard to read. Even when she is doing everything she can to protect her daughters, you can feel her self-doubt leaking through. Typically in stories like this the victimized character has a huge breakthrough and then becomes a confidant person that doesn't take crap from anyone ever again. However here, Chelsea comes out from under the shadow of domestic abuse tentatively and cautiously. Small victories to others are huge ones for her. Her quiet moments of standing up for herself are enormous victories. So, while there aren't big loud moments (except one toward the end) exclaiming Chelsea's character growth, the story is much more believable.
Through a series of events Ella ends up on her own in the terrifying world with no resources and nowhere to go. Having found the courage to break free from her own abusive relationship, she initially thinks herself so much stronger than her mother, but when faced with surviving on her own, her fears and doubts overwhelm her. When she finally snaps out of it and begins to use her wits, she figures out how to find shelter and some means of feeding herself. She finds a deep well within herself to take charge of her life and figure things out.
Patricia's second husband is rich and provides her with all of the status and wealth she feels she is due, even if there is no warmth or love between them. Kicked out of her home while pregnant at 16 years old, scrimping and saving as a single mother, Patricia vowed she'd get the life she deserved one way or another. She never let herself get close to Chelsea, feeling that better she know how hard life is from the start than to be coddled. When her circumstances change and the life she knew is gone, she discovers that her former survival instincts are there and she is determined to harden up her 5 year old granddaughter like she did Chelsea.
But with nothing but time, and a 5 year old, on her hands, Patricia begins to reflect on her life and relationships with her family. Cracks begin to form in her stoic façade and she begins to soften. Initially I was skeptical that the author would be able to develop the character growth and change in Patricia that I could tell she wanted for her by the end of the book, but the skill she took in doing so made it believable. Although Patricia is the "villain" in the story and not as big a character as Chelsea, I thought she had the more interesting journey and biggest change. I loved seeing how Patricia realizes that things don't matter, people do. She understands that real relationships with real feelings don't make you weak, but rather strong.
This is a long book, but it reads quickly. I was immediately invested in the story and couldn't put it down. The author does a great job of building an extreme world for the backdrop of a classic story of overcoming your fear, defeating your abuser (or at least, getting away from them) and making your life what you want it to be. Easier said than done, sure. But most things worth having are.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a fantastic horror/SciFi/thriller that analyzes what could happen if another, different kind of pandemic sweeps the world, and how three women living under the specter of domestic abuse can break free and make a better life for themselves. The disease, called The Violence, causes the infected to suddenly blank out and become deadly, viscously violent toward their target. Once the target is eliminated, the person drops out of the episode and has no memory of the attack. The world, suffering from COVID fatigue, initially discounts the disease and doesn't take notice until it has spread like a wildfire through the populace.
The story focuses on three women from one dysfunctional family. Wife and mother Chelsea, who lives a meek, frightened life with a physically and emotionally abusive husband. Ella, her 17 year old daughter who loves her mother but also resents her for not leaving and for having to shield and protect her younger sister. Lastly, Patricia, Chelsea's ruthless and narcissistic mother who cares more about living well and maintaining appearances than her family's well-being. All three women have lived with abuse and been mistreated by those that are suppose to love them the most. The journey each woman takes to heal herself is different, but worth it in the end.
The story sets up the characters lives before The Violence emerges, and then follows them as it affects each of them differently. Chelsea finally finds the courage to break free from her abusive husband, but the toll it takes on her and her family may be too much. The author does a great job of building Chelsea's personality and you can almost feel the claustrophobic and stifling life she leads. The quiet despair and self-loathing is hard to read. Even when she is doing everything she can to protect her daughters, you can feel her self-doubt leaking through. Typically in stories like this the victimized character has a huge breakthrough and then becomes a confidant person that doesn't take crap from anyone ever again. However here, Chelsea comes out from under the shadow of domestic abuse tentatively and cautiously. Small victories to others are huge ones for her. Her quiet moments of standing up for herself are enormous victories. So, while there aren't big loud moments (except one toward the end) exclaiming Chelsea's character growth, the story is much more believable.
Through a series of events Ella ends up on her own in the terrifying world with no resources and nowhere to go. Having found the courage to break free from her own abusive relationship, she initially thinks herself so much stronger than her mother, but when faced with surviving on her own, her fears and doubts overwhelm her. When she finally snaps out of it and begins to use her wits, she figures out how to find shelter and some means of feeding herself. She finds a deep well within herself to take charge of her life and figure things out.
Patricia's second husband is rich and provides her with all of the status and wealth she feels she is due, even if there is no warmth or love between them. Kicked out of her home while pregnant at 16 years old, scrimping and saving as a single mother, Patricia vowed she'd get the life she deserved one way or another. She never let herself get close to Chelsea, feeling that better she know how hard life is from the start than to be coddled. When her circumstances change and the life she knew is gone, she discovers that her former survival instincts are there and she is determined to harden up her 5 year old granddaughter like she did Chelsea.
But with nothing but time, and a 5 year old, on her hands, Patricia begins to reflect on her life and relationships with her family. Cracks begin to form in her stoic façade and she begins to soften. Initially I was skeptical that the author would be able to develop the character growth and change in Patricia that I could tell she wanted for her by the end of the book, but the skill she took in doing so made it believable. Although Patricia is the "villain" in the story and not as big a character as Chelsea, I thought she had the more interesting journey and biggest change. I loved seeing how Patricia realizes that things don't matter, people do. She understands that real relationships with real feelings don't make you weak, but rather strong.
This is a long book, but it reads quickly. I was immediately invested in the story and couldn't put it down. The author does a great job of building an extreme world for the backdrop of a classic story of overcoming your fear, defeating your abuser (or at least, getting away from them) and making your life what you want it to be. Easier said than done, sure. But most things worth having are.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey. All opinions are my own.
May 31, 2022
This book is filled with gaslighting and horrible men doing the horrible things some of them do and that’s before the “Violence” plague even hits them
There’s a long setup as we learn about the trio featured in the book. Mother, daughter, and teen granddaughter - all dealing with the terrible, horrible, awful men in their lives. It was hard to read. I’m not even going to try to pretend otherwise and shrug it off. I read so many dark things but I don’t like immersing myself in that kind of realistic thing for too long and this felt as if I were sitting in it for a very long time before things started to turn around. I don’t think it’s the fault of the book. I think it’s more the fault of our current society which allows this sort of thing to go unchecked and allows women who speak out to get shamed for it and then we have the current state of the news which is 100% awful and getting worse every day. So yeah, a book called “The Violence” was probably a bad choice for me at this current moment in time. Guess it’s a case of “it’s me, not the book”. But I didn't enjoy most of it very much and that's the honest truth.
With that said, things did turn around eventually but there were a few things that would’ve still dragged the read down for me because I didn’t feel they worked all that well. I loved the imperfect characters but some of the plot turns and decisions were odd. When a character joins up with a WWE-like fight club and they are immediately all kinds of successful I could not suspend my disbelief enough to buy it. I have wrestling fans in this house who love that stuff and I know it takes years and years of hard work to get good at it without breaking your body so none of this rang true to me and it felt so odd and so out of place. It seemed like a very weird way to gain your power back if you ask me.
Anyhow, I guess that’s what happens when a book isn’t entirely working for me. I start to pick things to shreds so I’ll just stop talking here before a hoard of fans descend on me to tell me I read the book completely wrong.
I’m giving this a 2.5 I'd bump it up to a 3 but that wouldn't be honest because I didn't truly "like it" and in the end forced myself through it. Sometimes it's best to quit things.
CW:
This review is based on my personal reading experience. Yours may differ. Don't be blaming me if it does!
There’s a long setup as we learn about the trio featured in the book. Mother, daughter, and teen granddaughter - all dealing with the terrible, horrible, awful men in their lives. It was hard to read. I’m not even going to try to pretend otherwise and shrug it off. I read so many dark things but I don’t like immersing myself in that kind of realistic thing for too long and this felt as if I were sitting in it for a very long time before things started to turn around. I don’t think it’s the fault of the book. I think it’s more the fault of our current society which allows this sort of thing to go unchecked and allows women who speak out to get shamed for it and then we have the current state of the news which is 100% awful and getting worse every day. So yeah, a book called “The Violence” was probably a bad choice for me at this current moment in time. Guess it’s a case of “it’s me, not the book”. But I didn't enjoy most of it very much and that's the honest truth.
With that said, things did turn around eventually but there were a few things that would’ve still dragged the read down for me because I didn’t feel they worked all that well. I loved the imperfect characters but some of the plot turns and decisions were odd. When a character joins up with a WWE-like fight club and they are immediately all kinds of successful I could not suspend my disbelief enough to buy it. I have wrestling fans in this house who love that stuff and I know it takes years and years of hard work to get good at it without breaking your body so none of this rang true to me and it felt so odd and so out of place. It seemed like a very weird way to gain your power back if you ask me.
Anyhow, I guess that’s what happens when a book isn’t entirely working for me. I start to pick things to shreds so I’ll just stop talking here before a hoard of fans descend on me to tell me I read the book completely wrong.
I’m giving this a 2.5 I'd bump it up to a 3 but that wouldn't be honest because I didn't truly "like it" and in the end forced myself through it. Sometimes it's best to quit things.
CW:
This review is based on my personal reading experience. Yours may differ. Don't be blaming me if it does!
March 16, 2022
It took me a while, but I finally decided to check out the audiobook and ended up loving it!!!
The Violence is set in the near future, a few years after COVID has swept the world. A new pandemic happens, after an epidemic of a sickness called “The Violence”, rocks the nation, turning those afflicted into homicidal maniacs, only calming once they’ve killed their targets.
As the title suggests, this book is fairly violent. The descriptions of violence, blood, gore, and body horror were pretty vivid and graphic (there was also a very graphic instance of animal cruelty/death).
Also, this book critiques/touches on just about every single social issue at the moment, including but not limited to: Covid, general political stuff, the Trump era presidency and everything that entailed (most specifically how he handled the epidemic), domestic violence, police brutality, racism, and a lot more. Just be aware that this is not the type of book to read if you want to escape from our current reality.
HOWEVER. I thought Delilah did an AMAZING job of tackling everything. This was intense, very anxiety inducing, sometimes brutal, but Delilah is freaking hilarious. There were many times I laughed out loud during the ridiculous-ness of a few situations, and the internal monologues of the characters (particularly the teenage daughters and grandmothers POVs). This book does get dark, but the comedic relief is everything!! Also, there were a few times that I was moved almost to tears. There’s a sense of togetherness and found family throughout the story that i found to be really touching. The character development was also some of the best that I’ve read in a long time.
Anyways, I know I usually don’t write long reviews for books, but I really, really enjoyed this one. This is an intense pandemic story with a lot of heart, and I highly recommend it!!
The Violence is set in the near future, a few years after COVID has swept the world. A new pandemic happens, after an epidemic of a sickness called “The Violence”, rocks the nation, turning those afflicted into homicidal maniacs, only calming once they’ve killed their targets.
As the title suggests, this book is fairly violent. The descriptions of violence, blood, gore, and body horror were pretty vivid and graphic (there was also a very graphic instance of animal cruelty/death).
Also, this book critiques/touches on just about every single social issue at the moment, including but not limited to: Covid, general political stuff, the Trump era presidency and everything that entailed (most specifically how he handled the epidemic), domestic violence, police brutality, racism, and a lot more. Just be aware that this is not the type of book to read if you want to escape from our current reality.
HOWEVER. I thought Delilah did an AMAZING job of tackling everything. This was intense, very anxiety inducing, sometimes brutal, but Delilah is freaking hilarious. There were many times I laughed out loud during the ridiculous-ness of a few situations, and the internal monologues of the characters (particularly the teenage daughters and grandmothers POVs). This book does get dark, but the comedic relief is everything!! Also, there were a few times that I was moved almost to tears. There’s a sense of togetherness and found family throughout the story that i found to be really touching. The character development was also some of the best that I’ve read in a long time.
Anyways, I know I usually don’t write long reviews for books, but I really, really enjoyed this one. This is an intense pandemic story with a lot of heart, and I highly recommend it!!
February 20, 2022
🎧BOOK REVIEW🎧
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Audio: 18 hrs
RELEASE DATE: Feb 1, 2022
TW: Sexual Abuse, Animal Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Violence, of course.
WOW…This book makes COVID look like a summer-time walk in the park! It tested my attention span at times. But it is a savage and unique spin on the pandemic trope.
A Narcissist's Prayer: That didn't happen. And if it did, it wasn't that bad. And if it was, that's not a big deal. And if it is, that's not my fault. And if it was, I didn't mean it. And if I did... You deserved it.
Chelsea’s life looks perfect on the outside, but it is anything but. She has two wonderful daughters, but her husband is a nightmare when he’s home. When a mysterious illness sweeps the nation, she comes up with an escape plan. A very daring and risky plan that no one expects!
I’m not interested in books that significantly focus on a pandemic. We get enough of it in real life. But this book is so riveting, suspenseful, and horrifying, I couldn’t stop listening! I recommend it to anyone that can stomach the TW’s.
#theviolence #delilahsdawson #libby #randomhouseaudio #justfinishedreading #bookreviewer #audiobook #lovebooks
#thrillersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #coloradobookstagrammer #coloradoreader #fortheloveofbooks #bookreviewerofinstragram
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Audio: 18 hrs
RELEASE DATE: Feb 1, 2022
TW: Sexual Abuse, Animal Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Violence, of course.
WOW…This book makes COVID look like a summer-time walk in the park! It tested my attention span at times. But it is a savage and unique spin on the pandemic trope.
A Narcissist's Prayer: That didn't happen. And if it did, it wasn't that bad. And if it was, that's not a big deal. And if it is, that's not my fault. And if it was, I didn't mean it. And if I did... You deserved it.
Chelsea’s life looks perfect on the outside, but it is anything but. She has two wonderful daughters, but her husband is a nightmare when he’s home. When a mysterious illness sweeps the nation, she comes up with an escape plan. A very daring and risky plan that no one expects!
I’m not interested in books that significantly focus on a pandemic. We get enough of it in real life. But this book is so riveting, suspenseful, and horrifying, I couldn’t stop listening! I recommend it to anyone that can stomach the TW’s.
#theviolence #delilahsdawson #libby #randomhouseaudio #justfinishedreading #bookreviewer #audiobook #lovebooks
#thrillersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #coloradobookstagrammer #coloradoreader #fortheloveofbooks #bookreviewerofinstragram
April 13, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Well, this novel is a weird little gem.
I don’t know what I was expecting from a plot centring around a new virus – five years after covid – that turns people into mindless, murderous violent monsters and a mother who joins a new wrestling… group? Organization? Federation? What is the correct term for a wrestling thing? Whatever, the point is this is oddball, heartfelt and violent in equal measure and I totally dug it, despite my current aversion to anything pandemic related.
Chelsea is married to David. David is a controlling, gaslighting, abusive piece of absolute shit. When the virus – named the Violence – starts spreading with rapid and deadly results, Chelsea devises a way out, but between her two children and her emotionally abusive rich-bitch mother, things don’t go as planned.
This novel has a wild and original plot that takes so many unpredictable turns with vibrant scenes and satisfying prose. I was bewildered by the kooky moments mixed in with the uncomfortably real ones, but was also on the edge of my seat the entire time.
It’s all “what the actual fuck” vibes, but in a good way.
Be warned, a content warning is needed for domestic violence and animal death.
As someone who was in an abusive relationship for an unfortunate chunk of my 20s, the scenes between Chelsea and David made me so anxious it was almost unbearable. But that’s what let me know this author fucking gets it. Like, the audacity of Delilah Dawson to write scenes of domestic violence so fucking honest and raw and good. Talk about hitting the shitty nail right on its shitty head.
This is about the Violence with a capital V, and about violence with a lower-case v. It explores all the violent themes therein with out-of-the-box plotting, genuine dialogue, deftly presented characters and unflinching directness.
I totally loved it. It’s 500 pages that a blew through in three sittings. And that is so unlike me, but I was completely captivated by this chonky, eccentric story.
You get lots of murder, malignant narcissism, a covid meets rabies virus, the second massive societal trauma in five years, generational trauma, obsessive social climbing, McMansions, fleeing rich people, shitty first boyfriends, emotional manipulation, mothers trying their best, mothers doing their worst, aggressive beer drinking, domestic abuse behind closed doors, domestic abuse caught on viral video, abuse of power, verbal put-downs, restricting money, cancelled credit cards, money hidden, money stolen, forced botox, gaslighting, choke holds, terrorizing with a baseball bat, mirror shards in the face, brain splattered rompers, intentional antagonizing, a government virus hotline, threats of violence, actual violence, bad cops, bad men, condescending men, forced quarantine, self-quarantine, 911 calls, staying with grandma but grandma’s a bitch, the national guard, pepper as a murder trigger, virus-centric wrestling, wrestling training, wrestling fame, dangerous crowds, unexpected divorce, vomit to the face, poop to the face, bullets in the face, head smashing, road trips gone awry, car accidents, car theft, entrepenuring people, stupid people, desperate people, lost family, vaccines made in an RV, death by spatula, death by Yeti cup, death by Caboodle, pile-ons, gaping bite wounds, running from medical bills, abandoned homes, dead housecats, stomped dogs, rich people scavenging, fighting back, standing up for yourself, ending the cycle, and karma being a glorious bitch.
This was compelling and messed up and stressed me the fuck out. It gave me everything I could have wanted from a virus horror story exploring themes of abuse and women’s empowerment and changing your fucking life. It’s violent but it has so much heart.
For sure it won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of my favourite reads of 2022.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.5 stars rounded up
Well, this novel is a weird little gem.
I don’t know what I was expecting from a plot centring around a new virus – five years after covid – that turns people into mindless, murderous violent monsters and a mother who joins a new wrestling… group? Organization? Federation? What is the correct term for a wrestling thing? Whatever, the point is this is oddball, heartfelt and violent in equal measure and I totally dug it, despite my current aversion to anything pandemic related.
Chelsea is married to David. David is a controlling, gaslighting, abusive piece of absolute shit. When the virus – named the Violence – starts spreading with rapid and deadly results, Chelsea devises a way out, but between her two children and her emotionally abusive rich-bitch mother, things don’t go as planned.
This novel has a wild and original plot that takes so many unpredictable turns with vibrant scenes and satisfying prose. I was bewildered by the kooky moments mixed in with the uncomfortably real ones, but was also on the edge of my seat the entire time.
It’s all “what the actual fuck” vibes, but in a good way.
Be warned, a content warning is needed for domestic violence and animal death.
As someone who was in an abusive relationship for an unfortunate chunk of my 20s, the scenes between Chelsea and David made me so anxious it was almost unbearable. But that’s what let me know this author fucking gets it. Like, the audacity of Delilah Dawson to write scenes of domestic violence so fucking honest and raw and good. Talk about hitting the shitty nail right on its shitty head.
This is about the Violence with a capital V, and about violence with a lower-case v. It explores all the violent themes therein with out-of-the-box plotting, genuine dialogue, deftly presented characters and unflinching directness.
I totally loved it. It’s 500 pages that a blew through in three sittings. And that is so unlike me, but I was completely captivated by this chonky, eccentric story.
You get lots of murder, malignant narcissism, a covid meets rabies virus, the second massive societal trauma in five years, generational trauma, obsessive social climbing, McMansions, fleeing rich people, shitty first boyfriends, emotional manipulation, mothers trying their best, mothers doing their worst, aggressive beer drinking, domestic abuse behind closed doors, domestic abuse caught on viral video, abuse of power, verbal put-downs, restricting money, cancelled credit cards, money hidden, money stolen, forced botox, gaslighting, choke holds, terrorizing with a baseball bat, mirror shards in the face, brain splattered rompers, intentional antagonizing, a government virus hotline, threats of violence, actual violence, bad cops, bad men, condescending men, forced quarantine, self-quarantine, 911 calls, staying with grandma but grandma’s a bitch, the national guard, pepper as a murder trigger, virus-centric wrestling, wrestling training, wrestling fame, dangerous crowds, unexpected divorce, vomit to the face, poop to the face, bullets in the face, head smashing, road trips gone awry, car accidents, car theft, entrepenuring people, stupid people, desperate people, lost family, vaccines made in an RV, death by spatula, death by Yeti cup, death by Caboodle, pile-ons, gaping bite wounds, running from medical bills, abandoned homes, dead housecats, stomped dogs, rich people scavenging, fighting back, standing up for yourself, ending the cycle, and karma being a glorious bitch.
This was compelling and messed up and stressed me the fuck out. It gave me everything I could have wanted from a virus horror story exploring themes of abuse and women’s empowerment and changing your fucking life. It’s violent but it has so much heart.
For sure it won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of my favourite reads of 2022.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 4.5 stars rounded up
Want to read
January 16, 2022Sometimes the best covers are the simplest. This one conveys the tone perfectly
February 15, 2022
This one is good but way too long.
August 3, 2022
This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted! Major trigger warnings for mental, physical, and sexual violence.
I was very hesitant to read this based on the reviews; it was definitely a female empowering novel. Lots of action and interesting characters. The wrestling family was a great addition but that was the most unusual piece for me. After all the drama and horror, the conclusion was a bit too happy - that felt more unrealistic than the Violence pandemic.
Overall this is an extremely heavy story but I'm glad to have read it.
I was very hesitant to read this based on the reviews; it was definitely a female empowering novel. Lots of action and interesting characters. The wrestling family was a great addition but that was the most unusual piece for me. After all the drama and horror, the conclusion was a bit too happy - that felt more unrealistic than the Violence pandemic.
Overall this is an extremely heavy story but I'm glad to have read it.
May 1, 2023
The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson is not a good read. It’s a terrible read. It’s best described as therapy writing that unfortunately got published. I feel that the phrase “unfortunately got published” isn’t used enough when describing today’s book offerings. The Author’s Note at the beginning of the novel describes the book as just that—a part of her own healing process. Dawson says that some of the domestic abuse scenes her main character experiences are based on past episodes she and her mother lived through with her father, the abuser. Domestic violence and abuse are not to be taken lightly and I’m glad the author healed (is healing) from that. If reading this book helps others, then that’s good too. However, as a novel of terror and survival (and not a self-help/trauma/therapy-recovery book) it’s ineffective and unconvincing.
Chelsea has a nice big house, two beautiful daughters and a handsome husband…who beats her and terrifies her and controls her movements. When a mysterious murder epidemic strikes Florida, Chelsea decides she is desperate enough to use it to her advantage. The Violence, as the murders are collectively called, is a plague that causes those infected to go into uncontrollable rages and brutally kill anyone near them. If you are suspected of being infected, the government hauls you away to a quarantine until you can be tested. Chelsea knows that convincing the police that her husband has the Violence is the only option she has of saving herself and her children.
The beginning of this novel is not bad. I sympathize with Chelsea, her husband’s an abusive prick and I want her to get out. The pace is tense and suspenseful. Then…whole lotta nothing.. Once Chelsea turns to her bitch of a mother for help and the family separates, the story loses its steam and turns absolutely ridiculous. The ending is very soap opera predicable and overly dramatic but anticlimactic at the same time and then it all deflates like a days’ old party balloon.
I can’t really buy the premise of this novel because it doesn’t go far enough. Okay, so people start going nuts and kill someone near them (usually with bare hands or with help of a heavy object; not with a gun) but there has to be some physical limit on this. I mean, if a 90 lb 80 year old woman gets infected, is she really going to be able to beat up her 22 year old grandson? Even with the help of a lamp (assuming she can lift it)? Eventually, I’d say people would start arming themselves (listen to silly me: start arming themselves…as if the whole USA isn’t a walking arsenal of assholes with guns shooting at anyone for any damn reason or no reason at all) and shooting anyone they meet just in case they might be infected. You wouldn’t have an outbreak of deaths from the Violence. You’d have a whole lot of murders by guns. (Oh, wait, we have that now. What do we call it? Oh, yeah, the right toshoot people who don’t look like me bear arms.) But this doesn’t happen in the novel. Eventually towns and neighborhoods get deserted as everyone stays inside and the economy collapses. And what’s even dumber than this is that it only affects the southern states. Why? Because it’s been discovered that the infection is passed by mosquitoes and we all know that mosquitoes only live in southern states. I mean, when it’s 80 degrees in Pennsylvania, I never see a mosquito. Absolutely never. So the novel portrays the northern parts of the States as happy-go-lucky fine and dandy but the south is a mess of Violence. I’m guessing this is a subtextual message from the author. Or maybe not subtextual at all because this novel is way too political and preachy and heavy-handed in all its themes.
Chelsea’s husband, the judge, Patricia’s husband, the (male) police, the daughter’s boyfriend—so many of the men are portrayed as abusers. There’s no subtlety to it; the message is clearly: men are abusers. Well, a certain group. The author divides the men into good and bad, and the good men are the ones Chelsea meets when she starts healing and becomes a wrestler…eye roll on that twist of the novel. But the political bent of the novel is too much because the monologues by the characters on the evils of prison (392) or the disgust aimed at the novel’s current president (obviously a fictional Donald Trump, 372) are the author’s opinion and have nothing to do with the plot. The whole side story of Ella just happening to run into River and their friend Leanne (who just happens to know how to make the vaccine in their RV) is a whole lotta are you fucking kidding me? The development of a vaccine by a lone grad student is complete nonsense. We just went through a pandemic and how many countries and scientists and pharmaceutical companies cooperated to create vaccines? A whole damn lot. And it still took a couple of years before vaccines were considered decent enough to give to humans. So, yeah, one grad student figured it out? In Florida? Nope. And Leanne’s (who is described as smirking “fondly” as if you could actually do that) explanation for why the government hasn’t come up with its own cure yet is also insane. It’s there to take a political potshot at the previous president. Whether I agree or not isn’t the point. That type of crap doesn’t belong in a novel. If I want to read something anti-Trump, there are plenty of nonfiction books out there.
When Chelsea runs out of money and realizes she’s in danger from Joe Blow, her husband’s cop buddy (thus bad guy), she decides to take refuge with her bitch mom. Bitch mom says, the kids can stay but you can stay only if you become my housekeeper/maid/whipping post. Chelsea says no way but leaves the kids so she can get a job and find her destiny in a northern town. She learns about a professional wrestling gig for people who have the Violence. Chelsea says, sure, this sounds GREAT and after some misfortunate mishaps (I won’t give it all away), she arrives at this place and blah blah blah trains to become a professional wrestler. And when I mean professional wrestler, I mean fake wrestling, like the WWF, with all the theatrics and trash talk and fake injuries. I think the whole wrestling thing is incredibly fucking stupid, but I don’t have the Violence and an abusive husband, so what do I know? I get the meaning behind the whole thing—Chelsea was beat up, now she’s going to take control and get strong and be the abuser—but only in a nice, fake way, of course—but it’s so damn dumb.
Bitchy Patricia’s transformation from mom/grandma from hell to generous and kind and tough grandma is also not believable. The woman goes from a block of inhumane ice to a Hallmark card grandma and mother. Nope. Ridiculous. The extensive side trips down memory lane don’t help either. They’re boring and stop the action of the novel. It’s all ridiculous, but still. I don’t want to pause to relive memories with Wrestler Mom and Grandma.
The Violence is ridiculous. It starts out fairly well, but soon lapses into a nonsensical plot that really pushes my willingness to suspend my disbelief (I couldn’t). I’m glad the author found healing and worked through her trauma by writing this novel, but maybe she should have only let her fellow group therapy members read it and written a better novel for the rest of us.
Chelsea has a nice big house, two beautiful daughters and a handsome husband…who beats her and terrifies her and controls her movements. When a mysterious murder epidemic strikes Florida, Chelsea decides she is desperate enough to use it to her advantage. The Violence, as the murders are collectively called, is a plague that causes those infected to go into uncontrollable rages and brutally kill anyone near them. If you are suspected of being infected, the government hauls you away to a quarantine until you can be tested. Chelsea knows that convincing the police that her husband has the Violence is the only option she has of saving herself and her children.
The beginning of this novel is not bad. I sympathize with Chelsea, her husband’s an abusive prick and I want her to get out. The pace is tense and suspenseful. Then…whole lotta nothing.. Once Chelsea turns to her bitch of a mother for help and the family separates, the story loses its steam and turns absolutely ridiculous. The ending is very soap opera predicable and overly dramatic but anticlimactic at the same time and then it all deflates like a days’ old party balloon.
I can’t really buy the premise of this novel because it doesn’t go far enough. Okay, so people start going nuts and kill someone near them (usually with bare hands or with help of a heavy object; not with a gun) but there has to be some physical limit on this. I mean, if a 90 lb 80 year old woman gets infected, is she really going to be able to beat up her 22 year old grandson? Even with the help of a lamp (assuming she can lift it)? Eventually, I’d say people would start arming themselves (listen to silly me: start arming themselves…as if the whole USA isn’t a walking arsenal of assholes with guns shooting at anyone for any damn reason or no reason at all) and shooting anyone they meet just in case they might be infected. You wouldn’t have an outbreak of deaths from the Violence. You’d have a whole lot of murders by guns. (Oh, wait, we have that now. What do we call it? Oh, yeah, the right to
Chelsea’s husband, the judge, Patricia’s husband, the (male) police, the daughter’s boyfriend—so many of the men are portrayed as abusers. There’s no subtlety to it; the message is clearly: men are abusers. Well, a certain group. The author divides the men into good and bad, and the good men are the ones Chelsea meets when she starts healing and becomes a wrestler…eye roll on that twist of the novel. But the political bent of the novel is too much because the monologues by the characters on the evils of prison (392) or the disgust aimed at the novel’s current president (obviously a fictional Donald Trump, 372) are the author’s opinion and have nothing to do with the plot. The whole side story of Ella just happening to run into River and their friend Leanne (who just happens to know how to make the vaccine in their RV) is a whole lotta are you fucking kidding me? The development of a vaccine by a lone grad student is complete nonsense. We just went through a pandemic and how many countries and scientists and pharmaceutical companies cooperated to create vaccines? A whole damn lot. And it still took a couple of years before vaccines were considered decent enough to give to humans. So, yeah, one grad student figured it out? In Florida? Nope. And Leanne’s (who is described as smirking “fondly” as if you could actually do that) explanation for why the government hasn’t come up with its own cure yet is also insane. It’s there to take a political potshot at the previous president. Whether I agree or not isn’t the point. That type of crap doesn’t belong in a novel. If I want to read something anti-Trump, there are plenty of nonfiction books out there.
When Chelsea runs out of money and realizes she’s in danger from Joe Blow, her husband’s cop buddy (thus bad guy), she decides to take refuge with her bitch mom. Bitch mom says, the kids can stay but you can stay only if you become my housekeeper/maid/whipping post. Chelsea says no way but leaves the kids so she can get a job and find her destiny in a northern town. She learns about a professional wrestling gig for people who have the Violence. Chelsea says, sure, this sounds GREAT and after some misfortunate mishaps (I won’t give it all away), she arrives at this place and blah blah blah trains to become a professional wrestler. And when I mean professional wrestler, I mean fake wrestling, like the WWF, with all the theatrics and trash talk and fake injuries. I think the whole wrestling thing is incredibly fucking stupid, but I don’t have the Violence and an abusive husband, so what do I know? I get the meaning behind the whole thing—Chelsea was beat up, now she’s going to take control and get strong and be the abuser—but only in a nice, fake way, of course—but it’s so damn dumb.
Bitchy Patricia’s transformation from mom/grandma from hell to generous and kind and tough grandma is also not believable. The woman goes from a block of inhumane ice to a Hallmark card grandma and mother. Nope. Ridiculous. The extensive side trips down memory lane don’t help either. They’re boring and stop the action of the novel. It’s all ridiculous, but still. I don’t want to pause to relive memories with Wrestler Mom and Grandma.
The Violence is ridiculous. It starts out fairly well, but soon lapses into a nonsensical plot that really pushes my willingness to suspend my disbelief (I couldn’t). I’m glad the author found healing and worked through her trauma by writing this novel, but maybe she should have only let her fellow group therapy members read it and written a better novel for the rest of us.
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