sixcrowsbooks 's review for:

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I literally finished this book a total of 15 minutes ago, and I am...wrecked. I read it in a daze over the span of a few days while watching my fiancé’s family’s dog/house while they’re on vacation, and y’all. Just. I do not know what to say. I think given more time, I’d be able to spit out a 5-7 page paper, double-spaced, on the different types of victimhood throughout the novel — or the rejection of it — but for now, I got nothing. This was just simply incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Fatphobia, Vomit

Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent

Other warnings include: child porn; grooming of a child; internalized victim-blaming