A review by silverliningsandpages
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

‼️My Dark Vanessa is well publicised on Bookstagram, and for good reason; it’s explosive! 🔥 (No spoilers)

Many will know that the story follows the grooming of fifteen year old Vanessa by her teacher, and the aftermath of accusations against him by another former pupil during the wave of the #metoo movement.  The novel examines the confused and conflicted feelings that adult Vanessa has...does she love him, did she have agency over her actions?

I made the mistake of reading some negative reviews.  I do enjoy healthy dissent but some of these reviews really frustrated me as they seemed to entirely miss the point of the book😖

🧨 Strane, the English teacher is very well drawn.  A charismatic, intellectual narcissist, he’s exceptionally clever and manipulative in how he grooms Vanessa. Always insidious, he drip feeds her with ideas and convincingly reframes all of their interactions. He is written so masterfully that on the one hand we can see why Vanessa is under his spell, but there are her blurred moments where the reader can perceive him for the monster he is.

🧨Vanessa is a complex character.  She stands out to Strane as prey, for her intelligence, unconventional beauty, loneliness, class differences at the prestigious boarding school.  She has been criticised by some reviewers for wanting to be with him, and I think there is a lack of understanding that she was vulnerable and a minor. He has utterly confused her perception and the experience has left her submissive to his influence and control, imbibing every aspect of her life.

🧨This novel is a potent study of how society ignores predators who are hiding in plain sight, how systems and processes often fail victims of abuse.  How in fact they can dehumanise victims and enable perpetuated abuse.  The message of the story is: Wake up! Don’t turn away!‼️

Thankfully I don’t have personal experience but do feel very strongly about the issues highlighted.  This book is *meant* to rattle your cage.  The content of the story makes it an horrific, heartbreaking read, but so powerful and compelling that I just couldn’t look away.