Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed

3 reviews

whatvictoriaread's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

morganperks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity, Murder, and Gaslighting

stormwise's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

4.0

This novel is not for the faint of heart, addressing themes of rape culture, child abuse and trauma in a dystopian setting. 

The story is told from the perspectives of the daughters, girls living in a world where the boundary between childhood and womanhood is sharply delineated by the onset of puberty.

As the plot unfolds, glimpses of the true nature of their community are revealed and it becomes evident to the reader that rather than a refuge from the supposed wastelands, the island is instead home to a cult that indoctrinates its members from childhood, using tradition as an excuse for abuse.

A deeply unsettling novel that warns against blindly following rules and customs without examining the harm they cause. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Rape, Grief, and Death of parent