Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

91 reviews

yomireads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

What I love most about this book are the evolving characters. From the beginning to the end of the book I wouldn't say there's a whole lot of growth for any character in particular; however, the non linear story-telling adds complexity to what could easy be written off as "she's good, she's bad, and its always been this way." Though through the haggard circumstances of murder, the fraught nature of sibling dynamics is well realized as they squabble with each other, harp about each other, and love each other.

Usually the overall lack of growth would be a very big disappointment to me, but the sense of dread and feeling of inevitability that surrounds the conclusion of this book feels very nuanced to me. And though it's a small change,

there is a sense of the sister's relationship become more resolute and settled.

 

Stylistically, I also found the chapters to be just a smidgen too short. I don't mind quick chapters, but sometimes keeping the chapters so brief feels like it's cutting the plot and story momentum off at the knees. I know this isnt a largely popular opinion, so take that as you will. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny and Gaslighting

Minor: Physical abuse and Medical content

madds_libb's review against another edition

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

4.0

I loved this debut! The audiobook is so well done.
I don’t really feel like this feels like a thriller, more like a family drama. Overall it was a great short read.
The ending had me a little mad not going to lie.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Gaslighting

hayleyvem's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction

maggiejean's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Gaslighting

trekkifulshay's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, and Medical content

ahhhreadzombiez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.75

This book hmm… I got through it very fast (in two days, really) but does that mean I enjoyed it? Well, not exactly. I didn’t enjoy the characters; it’s very hard to read a book when you don’t like a single character in it. And I can’t help but feel I continued to read it because I wanted to just see it through to the end and hope, just really hope that the characters would have some type of development that would make them just a tad bit enjoyable. It was just a tragic story with what felt like no real point. I wish I liked this more, but it just… didn’t do it for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape

traa's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Blood, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Police brutality

nefariousbee's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

this book could have been good if it went deeper into everyone's psyches. as it is now, it's just average which is honestly a shame. also the author seems not to realize how not good of a person the main character is which doesn't help its case

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Classism

gondorgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

mtnest's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail