Forced & Arranged Marriage – Page 13 – Trigger Warning Database

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

The daughter of a union with an outsider that cast her once-proud family into disgrace, Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol and lead a life of submission, devotion and absolute conformity, like all the women in the settlement.

But a chance mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood that surrounds Bethel – a place where the first prophet once pursued and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still walking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the diary of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Church and its history, she realises the true threat to Bethel is its own darkness. And if Bethel is to change, it must begin with her . . .

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Racism & colourism
Misogyny
Slut-shaming
Ableist language
Persecution for witchcraft
Physical, verbal & emotional child abuse
Sexual assault
Rape & statutory rape recounted
Paedophilia & child molestation recounted
Forced nonconsensual marriage*
Exile & ex-communication
Alcohol consumption
Suicide recounted
Self-harm & self-inflicted injuries
Pregnancy & child pregnancy (secondary character)
Death from childbirth (two on-page scenes), and mentions of miscarriage & stillbirth
Graphic blood depiction & menstruation discussed
Plague (multiple)
Seizures & stroke (side character)
Nonconsensual branding
Emesis
Death of a mother & father recounted
Death of a son recounted
Death of a best friend (on-page)
Strangulation
Drowning
Being burned alive
Earthquake
Imprisonment & captivity
Murder & attempted murder
Knife violence & stabbing
Animal death & sacrifice

Note: This book portrays a cult which uses its beliefs to justify abuse, torture, misogyny, racism & paedophilia, including the marriage, rape (‘bedding’) & impregnation of multiple children (not graphic or on-page, but mentioned & discussed by secondary characters).

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

It’s 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over. Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she’s tiny until the night she’s sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball are forfeit. But Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen – she’s in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia’s night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s tomb. And there… Read more,

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

Misogyny (central theme)
Racism & queerphobia (specifically lesbophobia & homophobia)
Nonconsensual and coerced marriage of teenage girls to adult men (theme), including ‘corrective’ marriage & nonconsensual polygamy
Sexual harassment & sexual assault (on-page)
Physical & financial domestic abuse (on-page & off-page)
Child abuse
Implied suicide
Food deprivation mentioned
Blood & gore depiction
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a friend
Murder & attempted murder
Knife violence
Explosion & fire
Imprisonment
Animal death & animal attack

All That Entails by EM Hamill

All That Entails by E.M. Hamill

A gender-fluid prince finds an unexpected ally in an arranged marriage with a transgender man.

Prince Darian is willing to give up his penchant for gowns when he must wed for the sake of the kingdom. However, his intended bride has a secret of their own. A marriage of convenience may bring something neither expected—acceptance, and all that entails.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Ableism
Transmisia
Misgendering & deadnaming
Arranged marriage
Domestic abuse
Child abuse

The Lost Sisters by Holly Black

The Lost Sisters by Holly Black

Sometimes the difference between a love story and a horror story is where the ending comes . . .

While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke.

Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Cheating
Coerced marriage discussed
Alcohol consumption
Blood & gore depiction, including dead bodies
Murder discussed
Death of a mother & father recounted
Near-drowning incident
Bullying

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic. When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic. But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder-and more… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

Arranged marriage
Physical & emotional domestic abuse recounted (chp 29)
Cheating discussed
Attempted sexual assault recounted (chp 19)
Forced sex work recounted
Hallucinations
Suicide (on-page)
Self-harm and self-injury
Alcohol consumption
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a father (on-page)
Graphic blood & gore depiction including dead bodies, cannibalism, dismemberment and emesis
Murder & attempted murder
Graphic dental torture (on-page)
Poisoning
Imprisonment
Drowning
War & rebellion themes
Animal abuse & torture (chp 29)

Extra: The author, Adalyn Grace, provided a detailed breakdown of content warnings here.

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

To regain a throne he never wanted, Prince Yarvi first must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand. Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge. Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could. Will the usurped become the usurper?

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

Ableism, internalised ableism & slurs (theme)
Arranged marriage
Child abuse recounted
Death of a brother, father & husband
Murder
War themes
Bullying

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

“That girl’s got more wrong notions than a barn owl’s got mean looks.” Esther is a stowaway. She’s hidden herself away in the Librarian’s book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her–a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda. The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

Period-typical misogyny & sexism
Period-typical queerphobia & internalised queerphobia
Attempted nonconsensual arranged marriage
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a friend recounted
Murder
Gun violence
Hanging recounted (off-page)