Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Moja temna Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

434 reviews

soni's review against another edition

4.25

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Death of parent

Minor: Drug use, Vomit

hglbooks1's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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i have no words, just heartbreaking.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide

Minor: Violence, Vomit, Death of parent

booklaroo92's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug use, Suicide

mostlyliterate's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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this book is incredibly well-written and i read it in a day (not normal for me). but it disturbed me to an extent i was not prepared for and honestly made me feel awful

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Drug use, Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Stalking, Death of parent

thereadingmum's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I found this book disgusting, fascinating and thought-provoking. Honestly, it's very hard to review this book objectively. Yes it's written well, yes, the characters are very well done, but there's so much more to it that would speak to everyone on a personal level. The statistics for abuse are pretty horrific, but that might just be because we are much more aware of it today than say a century ago. Therefore it is highly likely that it has touched almost everyone in some way. 

What was fascinating was Vanessa's psychology and how she experienced and dealt with what happened to her both during and after the fact. You could tell from the narrative that she knew the truth from the start, but rationalised it because she wanted to and had to as a form of protection. 

As a mum to a 10-year-old, it was very frightening but also enlightening and I hope will help me to help my daughter navigate a very difficult time of life. 

If you're the sort of person who reads to escape reality, then please don't read this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide

skipabeat's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Holy shit. One of the most intense novels I’ve encountered in awhile. I don’t know if I’d recommend this book as it is decidedly horrific, but it is by no means poorly written or bland. Check the content warnings and proceed with caution, if at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol

casmurphy's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol

jrdnmanon's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is a very disturbing book but yet so intriguing. Made me uncomfortable quite a few times but I found it really insightful to be in Vanessa’s mind. Not the typical narrator, nor a typical story. Really important message to share with the world but so many trigger warnings. Definitely not an easy and light read but highly recommend.  

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Suicide, Death of parent, Alcohol

dannybrown59's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was amazing and devastating. I expected it to be dark and sad but it really sent me spiraling. If you have experienced sexual trauma I would really be careful reading this book. I almost quit halfway through because it was really that hard of a read for me. With that being said I kept reading it, I wanted to know that Vanessa found a little bit of peace by the end of it all. I related so much to her which I think is why I couldn't give up on the book. I've honestly never read something that made me feel so many emotions and cry so much for a character. 
 I might update this review with more of my thoughts because this book is just a lot to take in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Alcohol

julied's review against another edition

2.5

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol