Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Nestala bez traga by Chevy Stevens

11 reviews

bookishchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

For most of the book, the story is being told through the FMC's therapy sessions, which was quite unique. And the plot twist was very surprising.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Stalking, Pregnancy, and Trafficking

Minor: Gaslighting and Murder

simplyammee's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Vomit, Confinement, Torture, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, Child death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Stalking, Cancer, and Alcoholism

Definitely check trigger warnings! However, as someone who has a rape trigger, I found skipping over any scenes just fine for me (it does mention rape a lot though beyond the scenes; it doesn't beat around the bush with it). This book is not worth pushing yourself with triggers though, and again there is A LOT.

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

To say I liked/enjoyed this book feels wrong because this book was very heavy. Let's just say this is the first ever thriller where I was shedding tears. It did take me some time to get into (about 60 pages, but after that, I was hooked) because of how the story was formatted. So, just to prepare you the story is told through therapy sessions where only the main character speaks, and in these sessions, she starts off talking about a detail/event that happened to her in the present then goes into what happened to her then it ends off with her in the present again (that's how each chapter starts and ends). The first 50-60% of this book is her (Annie) recounting what happened to her and how she escapes. And my gosh it's so heartbreaking to read. 

Something I want to point out is that I personally like how the author presented Annie's personality through how she acts and speaks because you really get a feel into the type of person she is and how this experience has shaped who she's become. I think the author did a good job in presenting what an experience like this can take from someone and something as tragic as this creates deep scars into someone; scars that may never go away. 

The rest of the novel explores the present-day investigation into who did this to her and why. Now I personally feel very indifferent towards the twist. I understood the twist, however, I understand why many people feel like it was a cop-out and that it lacked luster. Especially because I don't think we got enough closure especially pertaining to certain characters like Luke (I really felt for him; he was so kind). 

I did not like Christina and I'm glad Annie finally let her go. I can't believe she even forgave her the first time. It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth that she and Luke slept together while Annie was out being tortured by "The Freak".

  Overall, if you do think about reading this I really do suggest checking those trigger warnings. I've never cried in a thriller until I read this one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Grief, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, Violence, Torture, Stalking, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Murder, Medical content, Cursing, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Cancer, Car accident, and Animal cruelty

sunshinemagik's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Child death, Stalking, and Gaslighting

xtritagonist's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Ableism

daria_morgendorffer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

Wow. This book was incredible. It grabbed my attention from the first page and didn’t let go until I read the last word. I’m sure I’ll think of this book in the days to come. 

I loved how the narrative was laid out  and how the characters were well-developed. 

I can’t wait to read more from this author. 

Also, make sure to check out the content warnings before reading! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Medical content, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Kidnapping, Child death, Alcoholism, Death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Torture

booknerdxo88's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gaslighting, Violence, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Child death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Rape

klcrichton's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is one of my favorite books of all time. It was gut wrenching, sad, visceral and heartbreaking. It will stick with me for a long time. It’s not often a book will make me openly cry. I felt the main character and her emotions as the story unfolded through her lens. The writing is phenomenal. Chevy Stevens has now become one of my favorite authors 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual violence, Torture, Child death, Pregnancy, Confinement, Sexual assault, Acephobia/Arophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence

betsybuttons's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this, and the twist was good. But I hated, HATED the parts of the book where she was speaking directly to her therapist. She was written as a totally different person. In those sections, she was sarcastic and had a dry, dark sense of humor. It just didn’t jive with the way she was written in the rest of the book. Overall, engaging and well written. Just weird. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Violence

hapikohw's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

 Gave it a 4 star review with a 5 star audio performance by the narrator. Was fast-paced, emotional and reminded me of a good version of a Lifetime movie. At the beginning, I was concerned with how I was going to take the protagonist, but by the end all I wanted to do was be there for her and never leave the story and her side. It also had a bittersweet ending, one of hurt, but also new beginnings and a journey for healing. The only thing is I don't think the retelling through therapy sessions did anything for this story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence