Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

108 reviews

natashajade's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Writing a novel on a predatory, paedophilic relationship where the main character isn't aware it's abuse and views it as a love story is so incredibly difficult, not to mention controversial, but its done perfectly. So realistic to the point one scene actually sent me into full blown dissociation as it was almost as if it had been taken out of my memory from my own past, right down the feelings experienced. 

I don't think this book could've been improved upon in any way, it captures perfectly what its like to be in the mind of a teenage girl who romanticises her abuse, and what it is like when that romanticism continues into adulthood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Suicide

tstiltsxx711's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape

auteaandtales's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

sorcha_rosa's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse

jameslyons's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I devoured this in three days and felt like I was reading my own diary. I've never read anything that describes the nuances of abuse survival so well, particularly located in the early 2000s. I found it affirming, confronting, triggering, and a really fucking good read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicide, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Pedophilia

Minor: Blood, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gore, and Animal death

Child sexual abuse is the main subject. Gaslighting, grooming, institutional violence, and coping mechanisms.

chaiandspices's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Stalking, and Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

littledevonnook's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

isabelfaith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Vomit

jourdanicus's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, and Sexism

hebrideanreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Dark, claustrophobic and challenging, My Dark Vanessa cannot be considered a must read; I suspect it is too triggering and close to the bone for many people. But it is written with a complexity and sensitivity for the psychology of abuse survivors and examines the ongoing trauma suffered from gaslighting by abusers and structural and institutional lack of responsibility.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Stalking, Sexism, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders