Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

1257 reviews

katekreadsalot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

This was a difficult read, but the subject matter is so important.  Heartbreaking, infuriating, and exceptionally well written. Check your triggers first, grooming and child SA throughout, as well as gaslighting.  You should still read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Child abuse

yuliyazar's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-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

3.25

I feel very conflicted with this review. This book is very clearly respected (its average star rating makes that clear) as it should be, and I do think this book is powerfully (albeit, very dark topics so be prepared). However, I also feel like it was much longer than it needed to be, which also seems like a VERY taboo thing to say given the nature of this book. A topic like this, obviously, should NOT be “rushed” but I did also feel like there were chapters that felt repetitive or unnecessary in the overall theme and to drive some of the heavier discussions/topics home weren’t needed.

I also had a hard time getting through it based on the chapter structure. This is obviously a very “personal” problem, but I’m big on timing my reading sessions per chapter(s) and this book made it impossible to do that (maybe on purpose) but most of the chapters were incredibly long.

I do think this topic is insanely important. And the questions and considerations this books makes are important, thought provoking, and honestly a little scary sometimes.

Overall, I did like the book a lot, but you definitely need to be in a very specific mindset to read it. 

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Content Warnings

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

rae_kh's review

dark sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

cerysvy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Child abuse

goodyeargoodbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Drug use

katziareadsss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was super difficult for me to get through but it’s was such an important read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

meganeliz_1214's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

mmtrue's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Cursing

mayhemreading's review against another edition

4.0

This book made me feel so icky

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

jonathanjacobo's review

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence