Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Meine dunkle Vanessa: Roman by Kate Elizabeth Russell

158 reviews

joaura's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

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

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

5.0

I am in awe.
This book was frustrating to no end with how human and inhuman it was. Such brilliant storytelling that keeps you turning page after page until the very end. I’ve just put it down, and I honestly feel it was a masterpiece. Heartbreakingly raw and with incredibly crafted ambivalence in the feelings of guilt on Vanessa’s part. I could go on in praising this book. It really is a tough read while a read that I think, if you can, it offers a unique insight to sth that we as a society simply cannot ignore. It’s so nuanced and insightful and all-encompassing and, yeah, wow.

It goes without saying that Strane is a manipulative pos. To put it mildly. I was also horrified by Mrs. Giles, a truly terrible person who lack any and all sense of empathy and care and compassion and integrity. I could go on. Absolutely disgusted with her as well. Again, speaks to the great writing bc we all know that her behaviour is fully unacceptable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Dysphoria, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pedophilia

geesammy's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a jumble of triggering and traumatic themes/events.  It forces you to reflect on things that are quite uncomfortable and question the nature of abuse, consent, rape, and even love and self-identity.  I was captivated throughout but this is not for the faint hearted.

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Content Warnings

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

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide

Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

itsdanibee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I-

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual content, Child abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Drug use, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

madeleineg619's review against another edition

5.0

There were lines in this book that hit like a punch in the gut. It was a hard read, but so worth it imo 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Pedophilia

Minor: Animal death

nora_pears's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Grief, Sexism, and Suicide

Minor: Death, Drug use, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Animal death

woolfinbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Animal death, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit and Abandonment

There is student/teacher sexual abuse that is challenged in different ways throughout the book. A major part of the plot is seeing the sexual abuse develop, the victim romanticizing what happened, refusing to hold her abuser accountable due to gaslighting, and not wanting to come to turns with what happened.

lindsayhotrod's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Animal death and Toxic friendship