Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

77 reviews

cady_sass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is SO uniquely crafted and effective in world building. The storyline, however, leaves a little bit to be desired- it’s a little muddled and convoluted, and at times I found my mind drifting because I wasn’t staying engaged anymore. For the first half of the book I thought I picked an easy 5 star read for my first of the year! Alas, not quite. The back half of the book just didn’t do it for me, until the ending which i actually really liked. The love story (can you even call it that?) falls flat and feels contrived, the sisters dynamic isn’t fleshed out enough before all hell breaks loose, and the character arc for Scarlett from judgy and prude overprotective sister to heroine superstar with a backbone who can stand up for herself does not transition smoothly and feels undeserved. But it’s YA, and instalove is a thing (just not for me), and I will give credit to all the things I did love: the minor characters SOLD the entire experience, the exchange of “currency” for goods/information, the effective twisting storyline around who you can and can’t trust. I did overall really, thoroughly enjoy the ride and am looking forward to the next 2 books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Classism, Gaslighting, Murder, Death, Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, and Child abuse

vicwaltz's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Child abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping

schmolly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicide

alicia_g's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.75

I liked this book, the plot was nice, with twists and turns and overall it was a pretty good read.

 

One thing I did not like about this book though, was that the ending fell very flat. I mean there was so much hype about the whole thing and in the end it isn't really explained very well, and she just loses all emotion. Another thing I didn't like was how suddenly towards the end of the book she just starts actually liking Julian, she goes from hating him to being ok with him and then suddenly she can't live without him, it just doesn't make sense.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicide, Violence, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt

nasya_4567's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

It’s hard to get into. Like I had to read the first few chapters multiple times before I actually got going. Might be because I was in a book slump 😀

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Bullying

Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent

rosenau's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body shaming, and Suicide

Moderate: Gaslighting

mayas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

It's been a day since I finished this book. And as the hours have passed, I've felt more grateful that I read it. I was able to see parts of myself in this story, and I've also learnt more about me. 

I experienced so much joy and excitement reading this. The kind of ADHD joy/excitement that dances through your whole body and feels euphoric. The kind that makes you scream and cackle because the tension is just right, the twists are endless, and you just figured out that clue right before it was revealed. 

I love the concept of this book. I love the setting. The characters. The descriptions. I have synesthesia, and so it was a DELIGHT to read the senses blend so many times. One of my favourite synesthesia-like moments in this book was the comparisonred velvet red curtains to chocolate cake
soaked in wine. I've never tasted that, or thought about this, but I SO understand this comparison!!! So much. Heheh

I was a little disappointed with the ending at first, and sort of still might be? But I also find it SO COOL. What Stephanie Garber did and how she did it was very clever and I love it. I really love it.

Thank you, Stephanie, for this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide, Murder, Blood, and Death

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Drug use, and Sexism

rape threat, anxiety

parkerknoll's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

aryx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious fast-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: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide

siglerbooknook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence, Suicide attempt, and Torture

Minor: Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Death, and Kidnapping