Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon

6 reviews

unknownportrait's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

3.75

a tense book switching perspectives between Cory (third person) and Emer (first person) through an addicting story

the first half of this book felt slow, and i kept being pulled away by it, especially from emer’s perspective, because i had no interest in her work or how it connected with the story

i enjoyed the second half much better - hazy and dizzying as we switched between a girl trapped in a dark romance and a mom going to great lengths for her daughter. no quotation marks are used, which is hard to adjust, but it added to the effect - blurring thoughts, words, and actions altogether. i really appreciated the mom’s perspective at this point as it added another layer to a rather overused plot, and i loved the desperation, the willingness it clung to

the ending, a climate of jitteriness, had disappointed me. i was sad to see that several topics — very important/tragic ones at that — were not covered or mentioned at all

overall, i felt that none of the topics or ideas in this book were fully covered - they felt empty. however, it was still a good read that had me on edge

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Vomit

emilycm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

gripping modern retelling that has its successes in the prose effortlessly done by rachel lyon. emer and cory's chapters and perspectives balanced rivetingly, and rolo as the looming overlord of the island was a violating rift in the complexity of their relationship, very well done -- not overdone at all as far as the myth goes. "fear, reversed, is rage" after all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Gaslighting

read up on the myth itself of demeter, persephone, and hades before reading! prepares you for content but also informs the subtle points of the prose.

kds247's review against another edition

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

4.5

This is such a beautiful book. The text is almost like poetry and the two voices for both the mother and daughter are incredibly distinctive. I loved both of their voices more than I have in any other book. Now with that I would want to point out the content warning of rape and abuse. It is very much a factor that drives this book, and if it is a trigger for you do not read it. It was a very dark read but one of the most profound books I’ve read in a while. Specifically surrounding the themes of being a woman in all of its gorgeous and grotesque ways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Death

megnut's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

An emotionally painful read. (As someone else put it: this was a story of trauma and control.)

The story was well done... but I don't feel comfortable recommending it. 

Cory's story made me heart hurt so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Drug use

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Sexism, and Sexual content

thequillhand's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

gondorgirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism