Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

21 reviews

shay43geek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Terminal illness

lareinadehades's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I didn't enjoy it. I think it lacked nuance for the themes it tackles, or perhaps, we were given the wrong pov and no insight into her mother's mind at all. The ending is far too abrupt and we're left wondering about Michael.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

kshertz's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This offer has an amazing way with words in a way that just challenges me and helps me to see the world in a different way. The incorporation of magical realism is just so intentional and the themes that surround so deep I absolutely love this author and the way that they really make a point in a way that is not straightforward and direct but creeps up on you that you think about for days afterwards. It’s definitely worth a read for this short Novella.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

ariana3's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Blood, and Murder

thetiefenator's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Gun violence

itsemmaofc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

pagesofkenzie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mary_soon_lee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

"The Crane Husband" is one of this year's crop of Nebula-nominated novellas. Is it good? Yes. Did I enjoy it? No.

It's a beautifully-written but desolate story at the intersection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The tale is a reworking of a Japanese folk story, this version set in a near-future where farming can be entirely automated and corporate, but there are also magical creatures. The story is narrated by a fifteen-year-old girl who is in jeopardy and trying to safeguard her six-year-old brother. There's violence and harm, both physical and mental. The plot turns on abusive relationships and attempts to escape. The bleakness of the story's main events is rendered even sharper in contrast to the girl's memories of her tender father. The story speaks also of art, but the art of the story is a very harsh mistress.

It's haunting. I liked the writing very much. I was on edge and distressed as I read: I don't do well with sustained jeopardy to children.

Call it four out of five distraught stars.

About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

jessicafee86's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

booksthoughtsandtea's review against another edition

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

4.5

This book shows the lengths older siblings will go to protect younger siblings, that love isn't enough to live on, the power of selfishness and selflessness, and the burden of grief. I wish this book had a more satisfying ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder