Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Moja mroczna Vanesso by Kate Elizabeth Russell

1839 reviews

noorvda's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad

4.0


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gnpunpun's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I really did not like the mc even though I understood the way she acted. It was a great book, shows a different side of how people can cope with things. The type of book I wish I could have read at 15. It could be incredibly disturbing and disgusting and make you want to shut it and never pick it up again, but it was also beautifully done throughout, despite the physical repulsion I know my face showed at some parts. I don't think I'll ever read it again, but it really was a great book. 

“we were just girls.” :(

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madkat37's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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carolined56's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I believe that there is life before this book and life after,, incredible story telling and it pained me to see that Vanessa couldn’t see how Strause was grooming her and she brushed it off and that what he did “wasn’t bad” 

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ktmshumway's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This book is beautifully written and was a walk through the internal world of a young girls evolution through to adulthood with a trauma and her own relationship with that trauma. I thought it was such a captivating look into the challenge of trauma and the ways it affects Vanessa long term and the ways she copes with it. It really gives insight into the confusion of grooming and emotional abuse and how easy it is to justify those actions in order to survive, especially when so much is asked, how much explanation is needed to be believed by people in power, the public, etc. I read a couple reviews that said it was too long and repetitive, but I actually think the repetitive nature of it puts the reader into the place of people like her parents or Ruby. You care about this character and you have empathy for her, but you also feel frustrated and grow more so as she continues to interact with Strain and justify his behavior or blame herself. I work in the mental health field and this is such a special and challenging piece of being a support to someone. To know they have to reach their truth in their own time, and to watch them hurt as they find their way there. 

I think my only critique was that I wanted more at the end! I think that the way it ended felt intentional and provided closure, but I did find myself wanting something more! Partly because I loved reading Vanessa's character and partly because I wanted to see her experience some of the emotional freedom she so deserved, maybe reclaim writing for herself. I think this would've taken another book or at least a time jump to do and I know trauma is not so cut and dry, so I can't even call my critique a critique haha. Just a want for more of this lovely story and complex character.

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cjgmiranda220's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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bedoyle's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0


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lynnd's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I did not expext this book to overwhelm me with so much bitterness and darkness at times.
Everyone should read a book like this at least once to understand not just how grooming affects a young, searching mind, but also see how everything these kind of abusers tell their victims is reflected in the world and media around us 

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georgiahb's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0


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bridget_magpie's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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

3.0

This book is infuriating, extremely difficult to read. Please look up content warnings!!!

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