Reviews tagging 'Incest'

Moja mroczna Vanesso by Kate Elizabeth Russell

7 reviews

lilacwhisker's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

pretty much every review talking about this book says it’s a “conversation-starter", and after reading this thing i understand why. my dark vanessa is a story about a girl who gets groomed by her teacher, but won't admit she was sexually abused. the whole thing (especially the start) is horrifying because of the events that occur but also because of vanessa's insistence that she wanted the whole thing to happen to her. this extra layer of denial is what makes this whole book so much more sad— seeing her call what they have "love" made me want to vomit, but i do think this can be accurate to how a lot of victims can feel. it's clear that russell did her research on this kind of abuse and trauma, and throughout we come to see how complicated both vanessa and her abuser are. it did get a little repetitive near the end, but this makes sense considering how such abuse works in cycles, and the length of their relationship. it really was a crazy book, and somewhat reminds me of notes on an execution by danya kukafka

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Rape

Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking

Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Addiction, and Animal death

juli_rold's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was amazing. The writing is really good. The book is so dark and really explores difficult topics (rape, grooming, anxiety, depression, love, age gaps). The book is about a 15 year old girl who gets groomed by her 45 year old teacher and manipulated into thinking it is love. The book is told from her perspective and with her thoughts and emotions. Some of the book is told when she is 32. 8 other girls accuse him of sexual harassment and assault. But she still thinks that what they had was love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Incest, Gaslighting, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Misogyny, Mental illness, Bullying, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction

amberlfletch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse

Moderate: Incest

racheldeng's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.75

“surprisingly screwed up and brilliant” as charley says. this perfectly describes how i feel about “my Dark Vanessa”. It’s provides insight on a survivor so deeply manipulated’s point of view on the abuse and the repercussions decades later. it’s profound and dark and disturbing but gripping. this is such an amazing read and it will stay with me forever

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Incest

jourdanicus's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, and Sexism

jocee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcoholism

alreads13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was so achingly beautiful and terrible and dark and complicated. It grabbed you by the head and wouldn’t let you turn away. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Rape, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Incest

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Drug use