Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

7 reviews

bobbi's review

dark hopeful slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

mj_james_writes's review

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

I started this in audio and as much as I wanted to like it I wasn’t. I switched over to paper thinking that may be better, but it really wasn’t. I don’t think the writing style was for me. But more then that this book is dark even when it is supposed to not be. It also had too much going on. Having the emotional intensity of WWII as a backdrop and then throwing a super villain in as well felt overwhelming.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and War

sashahc's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

“The First Bright Thing” by JR Dawson is about a queer Jewish woman ringmaster of a magical circus in Midwest America in 1926.  It’s about recovering from abuse and the weight of history and the beauty of found family.  It’s about evil and all the ways we fight it.  It’s about Tikkun Olam.  It’s got so many layers and such great characters.  Highly recommended, especially during these days of awe.  #book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death of parent

rhi_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Violence, and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

atlastheninth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

This is a lovely story about the past being the past and while we need to worry about the future we have to live in the present and make the best of it. It is about self-acceptance and choosing your own family. 

It was good and I did like the ending, but overall I was a bit underwhelmed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Genocide

teresaelj's review

dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I’d give this book ten million stars if I could. This is the best book I will read all year. This is the best book I’ve read in years. I still am tearing about about it. It is a fucking work of art. Everyone who loves the night circus and felt at home in the gracling series should read this. It’s sapphic, Jewish, magical, otherworldly, JR Dawson wrote this book for me. I won’t ever forget this book. It spoke to my soul. It travels time, space, everything. Dear god. This book was spectacular. I can’t stop tearing up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry

loveinpanels's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

Sapphic MC who can travel through time and space. Set in 1926 between WWI and WWII, both play a big role.
1914-18 villain POV in counter to FMC POV.
Dark fantasy in which some people have a Spark (magic ability) and are persecuted for it.
Jewish FMC with faith that is not always practiced but is an underpinning of her childhood and worldview. WWII and Nazi Germany loom large.

Overall a dark, character-driven fantasy with strong themes of chosen family and surviving abuse. 

Villain has a power similar to Purple Man in Jessica Jones.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Antisemitism, Stalking, Murder, and War