Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

323 reviews

dalek_caan's review

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I feel like there is no feedback I can provide that can do this book the justice that it deserves other than to say go read it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book through, and was really emotionally invested in the characters, the plot, and the overall messages of the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Racism, Hate crime, Stalking, Death of parent, Child death, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Homophobia

alreadsbooks's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

this book is like if pretty little liars was way gayer and way more rooted in real world issues and it was so good

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Racism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Death, Grief, and Stalking

Minor: Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Police brutality

chrisb913's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

Please check the TWs.

This book was absolutely incredible. A thrilling story about two high school students on the verge of having a very successful senior year before hell breaks loose. I was on the edge of my seat throughout waiting for the next shoe to drop. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's debut was such an incredible show of talent and I cannot wait to see what is next from this author. I don't want to say too much to avoid any type of spoiler but seriously do yourself a favor and read this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Outing, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Emotional abuse, Classism, and Gaslighting

se_wigget's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Highlight, copy, paste--you know, like a phone that isn't a piece of shit. Stop proving that you're garbage, stupidphone.

Paste, paste, paste, paste, paste, paste 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Stalking, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

myromantasyempire's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Normally when media is touted as a “this meets that” I am highly sceptical because it rarely lives up to it. But this is legit Gossip Girl meets Get Out and it’s great. And by great I mean it’s rage inducing and heartbreaking, a bit of a thriller, but also heartwarming because despite the shitstorm that is the story, there is some love and joy for the main characters.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Bullying

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Outing

Minor: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

aurora4847's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Ace of Spades was such a good read, especially for a white college graduate during Black History Month. While the stakes seem so low in the beginning, the tension and mystery keep ramping up the further in you get. It feels almost like a paranormal thriller, but with the monster being systemic racism instead of a demon. The ordeals Chiamaka and Devon have to survive are truly horrifying, and terrifyingly realistic. While it may seem exaggerated for the sake of the story, it really isn't too far off what black students actually have to deal with in academia. Chiamaka and Devon's differing socioeconomic statuses adds another layer of complexity in how they handle and think about what they're enduring. Ace of Spades is practically required reading for any white person who's benefited from access to higher education, especially more elite private schools and universities, and actually gives a damn about how POC are treated in those spaces.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Outing, Homophobia, Classism, Stalking, and Racism

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Police brutality

This book is about systemic racism and eugenics. The main characters are the victims of harassment that grows to assault, hate crimes, stalking, and abuse. They are repeatedly betrayed by trusted individuals.

gussurireads's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Não sou a pessoa mais qualificada para tecer uma opinião sobre a experiência das pessoas negras, no entanto creio que aquilo que Faridah tentou fazer com "Ás de Espadas" foi feito antes e melhor pelo filme "Get Out" de Jordan Peele.

"Ás de Espadas" trata-se de uma estreia de uma autora que escreveu isto com apenas 18 anos, zangada (e com razão) com as questões raciais que continuam a discriminar jovens negros nos acessos às melhores empresas e universidades. A forma como foi abordado, no entanto, carece de subtileza e até um pouco mais de optimismo, pois as experiências de Devon e Chiamaka são tão miseráveis de uma forma exagerada, quase cómica (algumas criticas falam inclusive numa espécie de "trauma p*rn"). Sendo eles adolescentes na era contemporânea, a ausência das redes sociais foi gritante, até à parte final do enredo onde um tweet de Devon acaba por resolver todo o conflito e salvar o dia.

Apesar dos pontos mais fracos, creio que seja uma leitura divertida, com vibes de Gossip Girl misturado com mistério, não sendo particularmente excecional em nenhuma das temáticas ou géneros que tentou explorar.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Car accident and Classism

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Stalking, Violence, Blood, Outing, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Car accident, Grief, Racial slurs, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content

cassy_smith's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Really enjoyed this book. Really enjoyed the slower start and really getting to know the characters. The two main characters were the best part. They were very really and relatable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Hate crime, Bullying, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent

maresuju's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Bullying

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting, Outing, Classism, and Hate crime

Minor: Murder, Drug use, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Misogyny