Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

109 reviews

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

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

mrsoakley's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking

lilymurph's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Animal death and Blood

curatoriallyyours's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A heavy topic but such a compelling read. Kate Elizabeth Russell has opened a window into the mind of a teenage girl who has been groomed into a sexual relationship with her teacher. This book does not shy away from showing all the ways this relationship irrevocably changes her, and continues to confuse and follow her over more than a decade. I felt, at times, that some of the side characters were somewhat flat - the government school kids, for example, who seemed like caricatures of what the author imagines government school kids to be like, and consequently the dialogue and actions of these characters tends toward the predictable. Over all, though, this book was a worthwhile read and it has left me with lots of things to ponder about the state of society and how it shapes girls and women, as well as how it positions boys and men to take advantage of that. It also made me question my own boundaries and reflect on my life experiences so far, questioning what I've accepted as "normal" that really shouldn't be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Death of parent

animalsmals's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Animal death

jackbifrost's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

aquariusvintage's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief

It’s a very challenging read, but these are stories that we need to hear and learn from for the world to be safer.

sirisolh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

TBW (to be written)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Suicide

icfasntw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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