Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi

9 reviews

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

Honestly this book was a total flop until like the last 10 chapters. It was somehow both boring and unrealistically chaotic. Paris is alive, Ella has evil parents, Emmaline is creating the illusion of destruction, almost everyone knows more then they let on, and Ella just kinda decides not to freak out now??? Idk man. I did adore the Aaron content and the little birthday party at the end made me cry so it got an extra star for that. I just hope the last few books make slightly more sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Body horror, Drug use, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, Violence, War, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexism, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, and Forced institutionalization

bri__'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This one was alot heavier than the previous books of the series in my opinion, with the content delving into multiple deep topics and introducing revelation after revelation. I loved Kenji's pov within this book and I can't wait to see how his relationship with Nazeera grows. Although I find it annoying that Anderson doesn't stay dead, I understand how it would tie into the plot due to the consequences of Sonya and Sara's capture. I also think that Evie's death was too quick and that it was too easy for Ella to roam the facility.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, War, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Racism

hayleythegoose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, Genocide, and Child abuse

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual content

Minor: Gore, Racism, War, Vomit, Body horror, and Police brutality

marenm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Gore, Medical content, Body horror, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Confinement

safety_pin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Blood, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, War, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Hate crime, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Classism, Homophobia, Outing, Cursing, and Transphobia

zc2's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

3.0

Loved this one. An emotional rollercoaster.  The ending gives me peace of mind

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Torture, Trafficking, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, War, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

hiraeth_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved reading from Kenji's POV and i loved the flashbacks in Juliette's & Warner's parts. Although it may feel like a "filler" book in the series to some, I very much enjoyed getting all the background stories and being able to connect some dots. I already liked Nazeera in the last book but this one made me appreciate her so much. I'm excited for her and Juliette's dynamic

(and of course her and Kenji's relationship! So cute!)

. The friendship/group bond in general was quite nice and I actually didn't mind Adam in this one (shocker, I know!). Also: a LGBTQIA+ character! yay! Even though it's not a major one (yet?? idk).

Warner and Juliette are obv very iconic in this one as well, they did not disappoint. They are just one of my favourite couples ever. But - and I mean this in the nicest way possible! -

wtf was that proposal? I mean I obv love them together and want a future for them but it did feel quite out of character for Aaron to propose to her. Like why would he believe in such a religious and patriarchal tradition? On the other hand, he really is THE SIMP™️ for Juliette so maybe that was a good choice. Either way, I was very touched by the scene and couldn't have imagined it better.

What I was also a little bit confused about was the graphic content of the brutal scenes. I mean it IS a dystopian story and I also read The Hunger Games when I was 11 or so, but sometimes all I could think was "and this is YA??? Wtf?".

All in all: A great, quick and enjoyable read with many great elements. Not too surprising/wild but also not boring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual content, War, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Grief

xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Gaslighting, War, Violence, Torture, and Physical abuse

victoria_elaine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Okay, so I really liked this book. However, I just wasn’t vibing with the

name change to Ella

, and something about the plot DIDNT sit right with me. LOVE THE

PROPOSAL

AT THE END!!! Can’t wait to see where this series goes. Overall great book (description of Emmaline had my jaw dropping in chem class), but there could’ve been more to it. :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Torture

Moderate: Gaslighting, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, and Gun violence