Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

45 reviews

nefariousbee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I think it's mostly me, I have to accept mysteries are just not for me. I can't tell you if the book is boring and predictable and the pacing doesn't make sense and the characters sometimes seem so out of character etc etc because that might have been me being done with the genre. at least partly, that is. it was easy to read tho, so there's that.
the biggest asset of this book for me was the huge part that played the MC's indigenous American heritage. absolutely loved that and I wish there were more stories with such deep and loving portrayal of an indigenous culture.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Rape, Car accident, Confinement, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Sexism, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Dementia, Grief, Infidelity, Addiction, and Gaslighting

megob's review against another edition

I really loved the book, up until the part where I stopped.

I totally understand that books can't all have a happy ending, and that this ending--had I read it--probably wouldn't be *un*happy, but I'm disappointed that that's how it went. Yeah, I was surprised, but I wouldn't have read the book knowing the ending. And that kinda ruins it for me.

 

First half of the book gets 5 stars. Third quarter gets 4 stars. Last 6% gets a DNF 🤷

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Gun violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Addiction, Violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Racism, Car accident, Confinement, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Gore, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality

If you're looking for spoilers based on content warnings.

the main character experiences or sees all the things listed above happen in her community. Multiple deaths throughout the book, many of which the reader is present for. Descriptions of her grief after these deaths. Neurodivergency affecting her experience of grief and understanding of the situations. A gun is directed at the main character. Descriptions of those in the throes of addiction. Graphic description of sexual assault with "fade to black" followed by internal and external gaslighting and the suggestion that this was not his first assault. Drugging and kidnapping resulting in confinement and forced compliance with illegal activity. Car accident follows which results in medical trauma and death.

At that point I stopped reading, so I'm not certain if anyone was brought to justice but it seems like they would be. Putting it all out there it seems like a horrible story, but it's really really not! The pacing and atmosphere of the first half of the book are very different from the last half.

onemamareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/firekeepers-daughter

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Car accident, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Death, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Murder, Rape, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Grief, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Blood

emsim's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Holy shit. This book was stunning. Heartbreaking. Healing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Addiction, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Car accident, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, and Confinement

eve81's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism

youngsk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Death, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault

hotbitch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Murder, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Addiction, Child death, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug use, Grief, Racism, Trafficking, Homophobia, Rape, and Violence

maggievanningen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Grief, Sexual assault, Murder, Addiction, Rape, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting

readingpicnic's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Car accident, Death, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, Medical content, Drug abuse, and Addiction

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Dementia

alybwrites's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was absolutely gripping: it was “just one more chapter, and then I’ll go to bed.” I went to bed listening to it, woke up with half of it still to go, and lied to myself: “I’ll just listen to a chapter and then do other stuff.” I did not do other stuff. I listened to this book until it was done. 
Much of the book is set within a Native community, but the unique experiences of what it means to be Native is portrayed through a wonderfully diverse cast of characters that each experience what that means in a different, but equally real and authentic way. 
Fire Keeper’s Daughter masterfully navigates the struggles and tensions of wanting to honor heritage in a modern world that leaves little room for history or indigenous tradition. We see this immediately in our MC, who is constantly trying to balance  facts, science and the scientific method that she has a deep seated passion for and the community and tradition that she loves and finds immeasurable comfort in. Figuring out how to make room for both, learning that they do not have to be in opposition, but learning not to let one blind her to the other is our character’s journey, beautifully executed. 
Also had a lot of respect for the very real examination of how society at large consistently damages and hurts  marginalized communities, even after making demands on members of those communities. 
Definitely be aware of CWs: I would say this is a mature YA. (Additional props for showing respect, communication and consent as sexy, ongoing and working both ways.)
But if you want a book that is going to absolutely suck you in and give you a new perspective on everything, I cannot recommend this highly enough. I cannot wait for the author’s upcoming Warrior Girl Unearthed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Kidnapping, Racism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Eating disorder, Classism, Medical trauma, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

Most of the content is handled well, addressed and explicitly processed in a healthy way. But still something to be aware of.