Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Elvira Mistress of the Dark The Classic Years Omnibus: Volume One

This is a difficult review to write. Cassandra has had an incredible, nearly unbelievable life. She's created a life around her with her strength, talent, and wit. She has spent a life standing up for really imporant things and being a 'strong yet sexy' role model long before society was ready to accept a woman being both of those things.

The book is also very well written, engaging, and funny. The woman can set a scene!

All this being said, and even though it in all encompassed a small amount of the book, there are multiple instances of incredibly uncomfortable fatphobia. Additionally, in a powerful chapter about sexual assult, she outright states that it's impossible for a woman to assult a man, which is so far from correct. I would be lying if I said that didn't boil my blood, and I almost put the book down permanently.

In the end, I am glad I finished the book. I am glad to know more about her life. These issues did impact how much I enjoyed the read. I'm choosing to mention them perhaps as trigger warning, or perhaps because I am just the kind of person that but can't help but point out this type of behavior when I see it.

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thesonnetsilence's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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throwback682's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

3.75

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mrsmishler's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.25

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aliciaofalaska's review against another edition

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funny inspiring medium-paced

5.0

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hexedmaiden's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Elvira is one of my biggest influences. She was one of very few female horror icons and I wanted to be her. Getting to read where she came from and how she became the legend that she is was amazing. I laughed, I cried, and even got angry on her behalf. Reading this felt like I was listening to her speak to me, meaning she writes how she talks. Elvira also being a spooky bi icon is still the best thing to happen to us in 2021

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grey_jayne's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

This memoir does what the best of them do: I now feel like I know who Elvira is. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is a fearless tell-all of both a life of showbiz and a tireless journey into the spotlight and acceptance. The narrative covers 70 years of her life and is candidly thorough. This book is also fantastically queer throughout and should be read by both horror fans and lovers of queer memoirs. Check the content warnings though.

I chose to listen to the audiobook because Cassandra Peterson read it herself. I really don't know if there could be a better way to experience it, if possible. Elvira does the voices, like all great storytellers. Loved it and love her.

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