Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

155 reviews

clo_l's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a really great book. It filled me with so many emotions from the very first page. It felt so incredibly real & I guess, in a way, it was.
Dark, beautiful, captivating, nauseating, intense. 
Amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Drug use, Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Eating disorder, Excrement, and Animal death

matildamercury's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Fantastically well written book that captures shame (in the younger years) and low self worth (in current day) in a special way. I listened to the audiobook which was a fantastic way to experience Vanessa. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Violence

kendyllgull's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Animal death, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

julia091's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape

Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Death of parent

izzy_r's review against another edition

dark emotional informative 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death

amyl0's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

lauryn_amber26's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Animal death, and Drug use

joaura's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

lilacwhisker's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

pretty much every review talking about this book says it’s a “conversation-starter", and after reading this thing i understand why. my dark vanessa is a story about a girl who gets groomed by her teacher, but won't admit she was sexually abused. the whole thing (especially the start) is horrifying because of the events that occur but also because of vanessa's insistence that she wanted the whole thing to happen to her. this extra layer of denial is what makes this whole book so much more sad— seeing her call what they have "love" made me want to vomit, but i do think this can be accurate to how a lot of victims can feel. it's clear that russell did her research on this kind of abuse and trauma, and throughout we come to see how complicated both vanessa and her abuser are. it did get a little repetitive near the end, but this makes sense considering how such abuse works in cycles, and the length of their relationship. it really was a crazy book, and somewhat reminds me of notes on an execution by danya kukafka

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking

Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Addiction, and Animal death

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

5.0

I am in awe.
This book was frustrating to no end with how human and inhuman it was. Such brilliant storytelling that keeps you turning page after page until the very end. I’ve just put it down, and I honestly feel it was a masterpiece. Heartbreakingly raw and with incredibly crafted ambivalence in the feelings of guilt on Vanessa’s part. I could go on in praising this book. It really is a tough read while a read that I think, if you can, it offers a unique insight to sth that we as a society simply cannot ignore. It’s so nuanced and insightful and all-encompassing and, yeah, wow.

It goes without saying that Strane is a manipulative pos. To put it mildly. I was also horrified by Mrs. Giles, a truly terrible person who lack any and all sense of empathy and care and compassion and integrity. I could go on. Absolutely disgusted with her as well. Again, speaks to the great writing bc we all know that her behaviour is fully unacceptable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Dysphoria, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pedophilia