Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'
La buia discesa di Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
18 reviews
inkwellimps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
I wouldn't recommend it to people who are fans of the original book. As a derivative work, I wasn't expecting to be so far astray from the original--Victor in particular I was very bothered by. To give one example early on in the novel,
I do genuinely believe there's a lot that could be said about Elizabeth, or anyone in her position, as someone taken in as a parentified only daughter (as Victor's parents seem to treat her in the original), but I don't think this book is the book to do it. I was eagerly anticipating how White would handle (spoilers for the original book)
For being billed as “The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein”, the majority of the novel portrays Elizabeth as a victim. The darkness in question is mainly Elizabeth trying to make herself appealing to Victor and ||convincing herself she is responsible for Victor’s murders via not knowing he was committing them||. She is rather hastily comforted by a side character, Mary, that she is not at fault. Shortly before this, Mary straight up tells Elizabeth that she is a victim.
I did try to give this novel a chance as its own isolated narrative after getting over that initial surprise, but beyond what it borrows from Shelley, I found it to be mediocre. There was a small moment I was genuinely invested around the 3/4 mark where it is revealed that
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Child death, Confinement, Body horror, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Medical content
A few of the "child abuse" instances involve religious abuse.emblazedwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really vibed with the retelling, and I thought the horror elements were really well done. Unfortunately, I found some of the writing a little too melodramatic, which could just be because it's YA. As well, I feel like there was some pacing issues with the book that made it hard to keep up with it at times.
Otherwise, totally recommendable for people who want a different Frankenstein retelling!
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein - 4⭐/5
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Child death
lochnessvhs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Child abuse
ahoyitsjoy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Child death, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, Sexism, and Gore
Minor: Vomit
jomarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Blood, Death, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy and Murder
white_dragon_tea's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Body horror, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Animal death, and Forced institutionalization
booksofautumn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Murder, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
louisegraveyard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
nicoleleann1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, and Body horror
birtelesemann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse