Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

42 reviews

lexihworth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

This is one of the darkest stories I️ have ever read. It is also one of the most masterful works of storytelling I️ have ever read.

spatterson7's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

bec28's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Police brutality, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cannibalism

anissawren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Cannibalism and Fire/Fire injury

nnguyen73's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

-this was crazyyy
-i loved the themes that were handled, however they were delivered a bit heavy handed. I saw some other reviews mention that the 2nd half was just dealing with Sciona's naivety (though she did come around). It was done realistically, but it was still a bit frustrating but that may have also been the point, idk
-the religious parallels with our society were so strong lol, I can't tell how I feel about that
-i feel like in both the sword of Kaigen and this, some people didn't like the direction Wang took her after the halfway point, but I found that ive loved it both times. Wang explores things in a way that comments on our society, whether the ending is ideal or not
-Wang's ability to develop her characters never fails to impress me
-She's so good at making you really feel things
-the gaslighting and mansplaining was sooooooo bad I was ready to punch someone. Why is she so good at writing shitty characters
-also the magic system is so cool!
-overall really really enjoyed this, it was crazy and I ate it tf up

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexism and Gaslighting

anni_banani's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

If I had to describe this book in a sentence, “ Which characters are heroes and which are villains? Yes”
Lol
For real though this book made me hate to love it and maybe least likeable MC in the most amazing book ever! How dare Wang make me obsessed with this book and pick it back up every time I through it across the room in frustration with the protagonist. I could hardly stay in my seat by the climax of the book, it was a whirlwind. The magic is exceptional and unique. 

The book has ruined me so much for other books that I wonder if I ever want to like another MC again? 

Thomil and carra forever. Love them sooo much 

This was my first ML wang book and I’m already on my second! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Police brutality

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Deportation

CW details Attempted R*p*, violent - chapter 16 Past infertility and still birth - chapter 18. Mass institutional infertility

stephania13's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

A heavy read with poignant notes on racism, colonialism, misogyny, and the systems that benefit. The beginning was a little rough for me as the magic system felt overly complicated, but I quickly got hooked by the characters and their worldview-shattering growth arcs. This book will be sticking with me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault

kristakp's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

So, this book being marketed in comparison to Babel did it somewhat of a disservice. It was not as expansive in world building--although with deeply different settings maybe that's not a point that detracts from the overall story. Over all, this book is incredible and challenging and leaves me with a lot to think about in regards to my own culture and society. This is the point of the book, I feel, to make readers think through these things in new ways (or for the first time for some).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation

Moderate: Genocide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma

meesesmooses's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Cannibalism

kbowles24's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War