Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

15 reviews

thissagreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

After reading Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé‘s debut “Ace of Spades” I wished there was more character development and felt the story paced too slowly, with a rapid conclusion that left me feeling as though a lot of the story was still missing. So when I picked up Where Sleeping Girls Lie, I was slightly hesitant, but was intrigued by the story’s synopsis. Well I’m happy I read this story, because when I finished, I wanted more!! 

There was the right amount of mystery, diverse characters, multiple plot twists, ladies loving ladies -but not with an annoying romance trope- and a solid story which threaded all of the pieces together, wonderfully. The pace wasn’t too fast or slow, and the narrator’s voice was able to shift into different accents, beautifully. 

I had high hopes from Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and she knocked this book out of the park! Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a must read. Five stars!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Suicide, Child death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Drug use, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

shugentobler's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Another win by Faridah in my opinion! When opening, this book was immediately VIBES. Dark academia, autumn, mean girls. I loved it! 
And who was my favorite? Definitely Persephone. Giving Prudence from CAOS, girl slayed me when she said for Halloween she wouldn't be

going to a party, but watching all the Halloweentown movies

girl after my own heart! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Islamophobia and Racism

jasminedaria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

Minor: Animal death

purplepaste's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, and Suicide

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, Stalking, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Confinement, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Animal death, and Physical abuse

There's a scene where a pet hamster needs to go the hospital but it ends up fine

bookishbette's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Outstanding. Somehow even better than her debut when I truly thought it was impossible to top.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, Mental illness, Rape, Drug use, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Murder, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Racism, Stalking, and Addiction

lausiusplau's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Addiction, Bullying, Suicide, Death, Dementia, Gaslighting, Child death, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

evamnrd's review against another edition

mysterious tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

shadeyc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional relaxing sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

3.75 
Well. That was intense. Oooooh did that give me the feels, and unsurprisingly made me mad at the patriachy all over again. 
I loved the beginning, that first chapter really got me, I'm always sucked in by Àbíké-Íyímídé's writing. But, and it's kind of a half hearted but, I did feel like this book went on a bit long. 
I was right there with Sade for most of it, and then I started getting tired. And then I got frsutrated, and then mad, and then tired again. 
I get the slow burn suspense is what drives this book, but I think the middle got a little bogged down, and we would still get hit by all th revelations and impact even if this was a little shorter. 
PS. Persephone for Prime Minister! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Bullying, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

I've put certain types of assault down as graphic because the impact of them feels that way. However, while the book deals with assault it is not explictly graphic, the discussion of or act is generally talked of, not detailed.

a_libra_library's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

Dear Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 

You have just become one of my new auto buy authors.

This book is full of suspense, mystery and a true look at what dark academia means in young adult fiction. To critique and comment on educational institutions and the system and structure. 
The audiobook was amazing as well, I love when extra production is put into an audiobook to make them more engaging. 

If you love a story that keeps you guessing, full of puzzles and anagrams and unreliable narrators then this is the perfect book to recommend. This is so much more than a YA mystery thriller and I hope that anyone picking this title up can see that once they're done. 

Also there is a cute animal sidekick so, bonus points. 


 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

TW: Drowning