Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith

8 reviews

coethedragon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Gaslighting

Minor: War

jessicayaun's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

I wish I'd hopped on this one sooner.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood

theirgracegrace's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

Sir Callie is the sort of book that you wish middle-schoolers got the chance to read when you were growing up. Callie, a non-binary child who wants to grow up to be a knight like their father, travels to Helston, the centre of their nation. There, they discover that their two dads and their accepting commune are very different from the rest of the world, where everyone is expected to fit into two gendered boxes (boys become knights, girls become magicians) and a bigoted chancellor rules instead of the Crown Prince. A harrowing read as you worry for Callie and the small group of friends they collect as they challenge the encroaching evil of the witch Alis and the bigotry in the city walls. Excited to read book two!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcohol

In a chapter, Callie gets period cramps and describes the dysphoria that comes with that.

jojo50's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A bit a bit of a preachy introduction to human rights. But it's a cute adventure story that includes all kinds of difficult topics in an inspiring way for kids

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Sexism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement

purplepenning's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Blood, and War

lit_with_lauren's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

bardicbramley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

rhiannonafternoon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

The world was not built for Callie, but that does not stop them from living authentically. As a nonbinary 12-year-old, Callie wants nothing more than to be a knight and serve the kingdom their knightly father talks about so fondly, but when they get there, it does not live up to the hype. The social norms of the castle challenge Callie, but meeting friends along the way that also don't fit into the social molds that have been set gives Callie the confidence to keep speaking up. This book is tough, but full of heart, and I'm so happy that Callie has carved out a place for everyone to feel welcome. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Gaslighting