Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

9 reviews

forgedopulence's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

La Cachette is for the ghosts.

This book is very much Young Adult, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Overall, it was a great story and held my interest, but I really wanted more depth from basically everything - the magic, lore, relationships, and the final resolution. The sub-plot was very well done, however. I also enjoyed the "full circle" feeling of all lose ends being tied up with such finality. 

Unfortunately, we never got to know most of the supporting characters enough for the main twist to be as impactful as it should have been. I'm glad those two died, and I don't think that was the intention. 

Incest being used as a plot device is also weird for a YA book and everything in me wishes the author had picked a different reason.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent

Minor: Incest

beckyremillard's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

hollyheartless's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I have very mixed feelings about this book. This is quite fast paced and I was very hooked on finding out what happened. Part of me loves the dark atmosphere and the absolute rollercoaster I was on in trying to solve the mystery I did not trust any of these characters apart from MC Grey. The history of the characters and world building was clearly really thought out and clear while reading. There are some very clever snippets of writing using small visions of text to build a whole scene which I thought was brilliant!! However, I will say I didn’t feel fully satisfied with the ending of the book as a whole in the epilogue, I feel like I have a lot of questions still unanswered. Also there are a lot of triggers with this book, including child death, abuse, alcoholism and brief mentions of self harm. It is a dark and more mature book, one that I would read again but I wouldn’t be in any rush to 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Truly shocked by how much I wound up enjoying this book. Nothing was predictable and each twist shocked me more than the last. 

Harts tempted should’ve been a dead giveaway but knowing the summer 10 had lost three before adulthood allowed the reader to excuse it as grief. He shouldn’t have kept the secrets he did, but even then he was not the worst … no one could’ve seen Evie’s plot twist coming. 

I fell for her being the victim, haunted both literally and by grief for those of their group who passed. Finding out it was her literally being haunted by guilt and by Elora for killing her left my jaw on the floor.

Overall, I loved the magical aspect of all these psychic abilities those in  La Cachette had. The intrigue that followed decades of murders, guilt and lies. Ginny is a beyond talented author, truly having my heart beat for all the

summer 12

while I devoured this book whole. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

the_first_lines's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Suicide, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

powellki's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I enjoyed the premise of this book, I enjoyed the beginning mystery. I wanted to know what had happened to Elora as badly as Grey did. There were a few twists and turns in the book I didn't see coming, especially the last hour of the audiobook. I am very disappointed with the ending because it turned into a very twisted love triangle (that had been hinted at throughout the book), and ends with the unnecessary death of multiple characters. I was also unhappy with the epilogue because it ends ambiguously. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood and Alcohol

cbbyles07's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Minor: Pedophilia

Very descriptive regarding hurricane, hurricane prep (may be triggering for someone that has weather related Phobias)

anniereads221's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

ladylivs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

’m not sure what’s spookier; the unexplainable circumstances around our main character’s best friend Elora’s disappearance, the obtuse comments from all the dozens of psychics in this Louisiana bayou, or the literal storm on the horizon. (Or maybe I’m pushing up the creepiness of the storm because of Hurricane Ida’s monstrous damage to the homes and livelihoods of so many people.) 

Grey spends her summers on a tourist island off the coast of Louisiana, a “self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World.” But this summer is different because 6 months ago her best friend disappeared, and no one knows exactly what happened to her. Grey starts searching for answers and only gets more questions, although as she begins to discover secrets and acknowledge hard truths, they may be more horrifying than she’s ready for. The biggest question and truth of all: is Elora dead and gone for good, and did someone kill her?

This gothic horror started almost too slow for me, but about a quarter of the way through it really snagged my attention and didn’t let go. It’s dark, suspenseful, emotional, and absolutely enthralling. The writing really makes you feel sweaty and hot, like you too are in a swamp dying of heatstroke and swatting mosquitos away while monsters prowl around you in the dead of night. For those of you who bemoan them, you should know there is technically a classic YA love triangle, but since there’s a whodunnit quality around whether we like the potential love interests, I personally forgave the author for the inclusion. 

If you read it and especially if you like or love it, I’d recommend looking up mutual aids for the Louisiana bayou since their Hurricane Ida recovery will be a long and hard process.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail