Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

6 reviews

_david_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

The book tells its story in such a beautiful way. It's about a adult-minor relationship from the point of view of the minor (now grown up). The characters all feel like real people.

 I've never before found such a good story which shows why to the grooming victim, it doesn't seem like an unbalanced relationship any more than if they were both adult. As an adult it is very easy to understand why grooming is disgusting, but this book uses its point of view to show how teenagers may experience it. More importantly, how careful you need to be with talking to a victim. 

I really am thankful how the author made the sex scenes feel off, eventhough it wasn't necessary for the story itself. I would feel disgusted if instead I would read about a teenager having sex with an adult and enjoying it fully.

I could talk about this book for days, it's just so good. My only confusion at first was why the narrator didn't realise that the groomer was being manipulative, eventhough flashbacks revealed that she already had doubts in the moments themselves. However, this was explained by two moments. The first

was when she realised she never put it all in a neat chronological order, but only remembered snippets at a time

and even more strong, the moment she voiced the concern which is my favourite quote from the book:

"If it isn't a love story, then what is it?"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Very graphic descriptions of physical child abuse are mentioned in the last few pages, around p. 351 in the text starting from "Bridget moves back to Rhode Island". You can skip to the next alinea (2 pages further) without missing anything.

bynnsreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

joaura's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

kather_doc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

reneetrinket's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Dysphoria, and Classism

crawforl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Alcohol

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Animal death and Kidnapping