Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

33 reviews

torij2000's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Violence

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Gore, Death of parent, Violence, Abandonment, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Bullying, Slavery, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Rape, Police brutality, and Car accident

gabriella_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Read this entire book on a flight to England and holy shit. The way this book captures grief, trauma, and how it can intersect with misogynoir was gripping.

Tracy Deonn is excellent at character writing and establishing interpersonal dynamics (and conflicts). She also creates a unique atmosphere with obvious (and not so obvious) foes. She empowers her protagonist and makes her multifaceted. She breathes life into Bree and, as a reader, makes her feel so real. And this doesn’t get into how she writes an ensemble cast either - good GOD I would be remiss if I didn’t get into that. 

Every character contributes something to the plot and it’s amazing that this author finds a way to do that without rendering them to be one-note or just a plot device. She has a plan for every character - and pieces of dialogue have a way of retaining relevance chapters later in a refreshing way.

I wish I had a book like this when I was a kid. 2,000/10 recommend reading this book if you are interested in fantasy and coming of age books. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! Tracy Deonn, thank you for writing this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Death, Car accident, Child death, Violence, Kidnapping, Racism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and War

patienceholmes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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

4.5

My only real criticism is that sometimes the messages were a little heavy handed. I think the author felt the need to make things very clear but in some bits it was a bit overdone and came off a little cringey. I think considering this is her first work though that’s totally understandable. 

I personally found it a little too cliche with the romance aspects but I think so many people would love it for that and that’s personal taste. 

Aside from that it was really great. I loved the focus on grief, I loved the magic system and learning how it all worked, I loved the way the characters were expanded on and delving deeper into their backstories. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Grief, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, Abandonment, War, Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Car accident, and Bullying

Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Racial slurs

librarybookscene's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Gaslighting, Grief, Rape, Colonisation, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexism

spooderman's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Bullying, Grief, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Classism, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Slavery, Death, Car accident, Confinement, Body horror, Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Torture, Hate crime, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, Mental illness, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Cursing, Cultural appropriation, Blood, Ableism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcohol, Rape, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

christaleebee90's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

This was a solid 4 star read for me until about the last 5 chapters. Then … well I rated it 5 stars so…

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Racism, Pregnancy, War, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Slavery, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, and Grief

cigarettekisses's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief, Colonisation, and Slavery

Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Torture, and Gaslighting

nicole_cob_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Bullying, Classism, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Death, Slavery, Violence, and War

emjen16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is AMAZING! Such a beautiful and raw take on grief, racism, and slavery. The world building was incredible, the characters are so lovable and real, and so many plot twists to keep you on your toes. In short, just read it :)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death, Racism, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Classism, Gaslighting, and Infidelity

Minor: Slavery, Rape, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy