Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

357 reviews

mickenzie9702's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The middle of the book was a good thriller, but it became way too graphic towards the end of the book. It just made me feel icky overall. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Gaslighting, and Child death

karleywestra's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Blood, Child death, Animal death, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gore, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Classism, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Murder

noceur's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Suicide

matthewosborne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

This was one of the most terrifying books I have read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Blood, Classism, Dementia, Gore, Rape, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Sexual assault

multiplyoctopi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Dementia, Death of parent, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Police brutality, Alcoholism, Excrement, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

camo_mila's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Spoiler

I liked the book. I had a fun time reading and I loved the female characters. The only problem for me was the skip of time of three years, I think it broke the pace quite a bit and it was quite abrupt. I would prefer the story to continue flowing instead of making the characters freeze in time to then have a growing opportunity. 

The ending wasn't my fave too, not that it was bad or anything, but not as interesting I guess, I expected more of the ending. But I had a enjoyable time so no regrets

Also fyi having sexist and racist characters on a book doesn't mean by proxy that the book is that, even more when it's fully criticizing the characters for it, all the damn time.

Spoiler

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Death, Rape, Gore, Violence, Pedophilia, Murder, Suicide, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, Animal cruelty, and Alcoholism

r_o_s_e's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Classism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, Racism, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Animal death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence, Excrement, Stalking, and Vomit

areen's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

the heavy misogyny really made me uncomfortable and angry to enjoy the book. it's a sign of how well done it was but bc of that the story kept going back and forth and I really wanted to be done with this book. still it was better than I expected.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

apestforwrens's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

Grady Hendrix always makes you think with his writing. Sometimes that thought is " I wouldn't have made that narrative decision" and sometimes that thought is "this is a super creative take on the vampire story".
Hendrix is fantastic at pulling you into his main character's head and forcing you to see why they are reacting to their situation the way they are. This is a horror book and contains some potentially upsetting stuff. I'd definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings before starting if you're worried about that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Classism, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Vomit, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Dementia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Violence, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Medical content, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, and Drug abuse

cozycoterie's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Read if:
-You want a creepy, gory, non-sexy vampire in suburbia in the 90s thriller

Don't read if:
-You expect camp, based on the title
-If you're squeamish about certain topics (check the content warnings please)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Body horror, Blood, and Animal death