Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

28 reviews

batcaves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

tesz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The most difficult book I have ever read, probably because it is also the most truthful.

“‘He’ll never meet you,’ I say. It’s a hard truth, carrying within it grief and joy. Jo opens her eyes, doesn’t lift her head as she watches me. She’s constantly taking in my face and tone, noticing everything about me. When I start to drift away, her tail thumps against the couch cushion, like a drumbeat, a heartbeat, a rhythm of grounding. You’re here, she says. You’re here. You’re here.”

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

ecravens's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Grief, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

lakea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

Moderate: Drug use and Addiction

Minor: Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

review here: https://daisychains.co/2022/12/06/book-review-my-dark-vanessa/

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Cancer, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape

howlinglibraries's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

 

“I wonder how much victimhood they’d be willing to grant a girl like me.”

What a lovely, mesmerizing, infuriating book.

“It’s strange to know that whenever I remember myself at fifteen, I’ll think of this.”

My Dark Vanessa is a tough book to rate and review, and I'm not sure I can do it or myself justice, honestly. I usually try to review every book I read, but I'm granting myself some grace on this one and I'll just say that it was a gorgeous book that I'm very happy to have read, even if it made me immensely uncomfortable, heartbroken, and angry more often than not.

I suppose some books are meant to do that, though.

Buddy read with my wonderful friend Misty 🖤 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Suicide

chaser's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is honestly a masterpiece. The story is horrible in a gripping and beautiful way. Kate Elizabeth Russel has created something that could be on its way to a classic. It tells the story of pedophilia from the victims perspective taking a turn on lolita which is a massive reference in the book. I hated the relationship but it made m love the book more. You should read it, it's changed my viewpoint. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide

veenotme's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Wow. This book… Although I had to take frequent breaks because of its heavy topics and scenes all I can say is wow… this book was beautiful. The language was beautiful. The story was both horriffic and interesting. It really makes you question; do I encourage their love or do I hate them for it? I’ll carry this book in my heart forever. It’s a very heavy read but nontheless a big recommendation.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Alcoholism

gabigw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

xo_lali's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, Grief, and Death

Minor: Toxic friendship