Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

3 reviews

startjpw23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

The main character of this story is Ava Lavender. At the beginning of the story, she says she was born with wings. Then the story switches to France and focuses on her great grandparents as they decide to move to New York City. The story talks about Ava's grandmother and her siblings and their time in NYC. It talks about Ava's grandmother and her grandfather and their move to Seattle. Ava's mother is born there and then Ava and her brother (twins) are born there. The women from the great grandmother on down and the siblings of the women have strange and unique abilities. Often, the abilities are helpful. Ava and her ancestors view these abilities in a matter-of-fact way. There is a lot of sadness in the family. Often, the sadness is a result of romantic issues. There are some happy times too. I really enjoyed the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse

lilifane's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-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

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book. 

No coherent thoughts, just tears.

I loved it so much. The beautiful writing, the magical realism, the quirky and strange characters, the small-town vibes, the multi-generation family dynamics, the heartbreak, the love, the foreboding, the perseverance, the hope. 

But it was hard to read sometimes because of all the... sorrow and trauma and heartbreak, especially towards the end. I basically cried for the last 20% of it. But I still love this book with all my heart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, Death, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Sexual assault

binches's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Rape, Body horror, Death, Animal death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Blood, and Hate crime

Moderate: Drug use, Pedophilia, and Stalking

Minor: Eating disorder