For those who would like content warnings, I will include those for THE STAR SOCIETY below. This story takes place during World War II and the Red Scare in Hollywood, so the subject matter might be triggering or difficult for some. My readers’ comfort is of the highest importance to me, so I hope this helps you. Below you will find mild but vague spoilers that should not affect your reading experience. The information is in no particular order.
- Language (a few brief instances of strong language)
- Violence/gun violence/war violence
- War (the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands; mention of conscription, rations, starvation, suffering; mention of Pearl Harbor; mention of the draft, military service, and military training films)
- Death/murder (mention of execution by firing squad)
- Politics/political parties (democracy, communism, fascism, anti-communism, anti-fascism, Nazism, anti-Nazism, Red Scare)
- Antisemitism (mention of Jewish characters being attacked, discriminated against, moved to ghettos)
- Collaboration (one character becomes a Nazi officer’s mistress and hosts gatherings for the men; main character is uncertain if the decision is made willingly, by force, or simply for survival)
- Retaliation against collaborators (mention of women having their heads shaved and being publicly mocked because they are suspected of collaborating with the Nazis)
- Abandonment (absent father)
- Misogyny, sexism, chauvinism
- Gaslighting/manipulation/emotional abuse
- Favoritism (parent favors one child and is highly critical of the other)
- Torture (beatings; threat of harm to another to force confessions/compliance; branding)
- Scarring from torture
- Assault – physical (hitting); sexual (unwanted touch)
- Fear/concern of rape (rape does not occur)
- Brief sexual content/nudity (mild)
- Intimacy issues/insecurity
- PTSD/panic/anxiety
- Stalking (one character receives anonymous threatening messages and begins to feel increasingly pursued)
- Smoking
- Alcohol/intoxication
- Lying/deception
- Gossip/rumors
- Mention of refusing to give sexual favors in exchange for work (“the casting couch”)
- Homosexuality (vaguely alluded to/mentioned in reference to one character’s private life and is considered subversive behavior, but beyond this there is no explicit homophobia)
- Government recruitment of former Nazis (usually through blackmail: war crimes will be forgiven in exchange for government service, otherwise the former Nazis will be held accountable for their crimes)
- Hearings/trials
- Imprisonment
- Eavesdropping, deception, planting listening devices, taking photographs spying/prying all in relation to private investigation
- Blacklisting (characters thought to be subversive, associated with communists, or to have communist ties are avoided and/or ostracized)
- Marital trouble (increasing strains in a character’s relationship with her husband)
- Infidelity (accusations; no true infidelity occurs)
If I have forgotten anything, or if you have specific concerns or questions, please feel free to reach out through my contact form so I can help.