Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Deerskin by Robin McKinley

19 reviews

jessicafee86's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

And what he saw was a Moon-haired woman in a Moon-colored dress with a tall Moon-colored dog at her side. She was barefoot, and her hair hung down her back in a single long plait. Her dress was so white it almost hurt the eyes, while the dog’s long curly coat was softer, silver-grey, almost fawn, like the Moon in a summer fog.

There are so many things that I could say about this book, it is one of my all time favorite books. I've read it at least 15 or 20 times over the years. It's a tough read for a lot of reasons, the content is very adult in nature and is a very tough topic to read about. The book is also a slow writing style and takes a bit to get started but it's well worth it. Some people have problems getting past the first part because of the *spoiler alert!* incest between her and her father and the seemingly calm way that she seems to handle it. But it makes more sense when you keep reading and is such a beautiful story. I've never come across a book like this one before, it's definitely not for everyone, but it's worth trying.

2018 Re-read Update: Been a few years since I've read this and it's still just as good as I remember.

2024 Re-Read: It's funny how six years can bring out different feelings. I had forgotten how many things in this book shaped me as a person when I was growing up. I don't think I will ever not love this book. Discovered it around 25 yrs ago and it's still the only book I've re-read consistently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

tasintom's review

5.0

Now one of my top 10 reads. And my new favorite audiobook. A fantastic story told so very well

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

loganrhps's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Wonderfully written story filled with hardship and hope. I got extremely attached to the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

ashleyjapan's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

andressa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I honestly loved this book. I was rooting for Lissar and Ash so hard, and I was so invested in their well-being that I cried several times. Lissar's journey of healing from her trauma isn't over by the time we reach the end of the book, but we know her ending is happy because she chooses to pursue her own happiness, however long that takes and whatever it looks like. This book is hopeful in a way that's so realistic and wonderful. 

Heed trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Sexual violence

krisawesome's review against another edition

4.0

It’s a take on a darker, often sanitized Perrault tale, but the focus here is very much about trauma and its aftermath, and coping, and recovery. It’s hard to read at times, but it’s so beautifully done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Pregnancy

ket's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief

jjjreads's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood

maureenocal's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence