Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

300 reviews

fionaross's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I cannot fathom saying you were inspired by love and respect for your mother and then writing THIS. 

Long, poor writing, and we never come back to any of the central motifs from the beginning of the novel. The women are cliches- not merely because of time period, but because of failed introspection of their interior lives. But thank god they get some witty one liners, what really matters is that your slay girl boss team of book club members gets to think something sassy to combat their vile husbands.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

jhaneveauguste's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

nicoleme1212's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, and Classism

karleywestra's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

lira_the_recluse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I have mixed feelings about this book. The vampire is evil and manipulative, as one would expect. He worms his way into town and only a few people suspect him as what he truly is. His design, motivations and behavior is well done.

There are many morbid and grotesque scenes, many with a plethora of content warnings. 

I did not feel great about the climax of the book, and how much death it took to get all the white women to band together. I also don't like how the initial part of the book came off as very white savior, but I guess the book is about the flaws of the main characters and how they are finally driven to fight the vampire.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

multiplyoctopi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Excrement, and Police brutality

camo_mila's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

I liked the book. I had a fun time reading and I loved the female characters. The only problem for me was the skip of time of three years, I think it broke the pace quite a bit and it was quite abrupt. I would prefer the story to continue flowing instead of making the characters freeze in time to then have a growing opportunity. 

The ending wasn't my fave too, not that it was bad or anything, but not as interesting I guess, I expected more of the ending. But I had a enjoyable time so no regrets

Also fyi having sexist and racist characters on a book doesn't mean by proxy that the book is that, even more when it's fully criticizing the characters for it, all the damn time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting

r_o_s_e's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Infidelity, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Gun violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Stalking

apestforwrens's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Grady Hendrix always makes you think with his writing. Sometimes that thought is " I wouldn't have made that narrative decision" and sometimes that thought is "this is a super creative take on the vampire story".
Hendrix is fantastic at pulling you into his main character's head and forcing you to see why they are reacting to their situation the way they are. This is a horror book and contains some potentially upsetting stuff. I'd definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings before starting if you're worried about that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Fatphobia

madtubb's review against another edition

I am of the opinion of you use r*pe as a scare in a horror story you’ve lost and I will not continue reading the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

I mean it’s a horror story so graphic content is expected however I believe that there is a line that separates good horror from bad horror. This book was on the good horror for the most part and then lost me at the r*pe none of that I don’t want that very real and traumatic thing in a fictional story about a vampire like no thank you