The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

This book is multi-generational Australian family saga centered on a tragic, decades-long forbidden romance between a young woman and the ambitious Catholic priest who mentored her from childhood.

This book contains: alcohol, animal body horror/gore, blackmail, cannibalism (implied), child abuse (severe/excessive), controversial religious and gender commentary, death (excessive-animals and humans), deception, depression, derogatory terms, dubious consent, explicit sexual activities/nudity, farming animal cruelty, grief, grooming, human body horror/gore, marital rape (graphic and mutliple times), murder, non-sexual nudity, parental neglect, profanity, prostitution, smoking, toxic relationships and violence (excessive/graphic).