Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Raising the Horseman

Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Raising the Horseman by Serena Valentino

9 reviews

ashdawn's review against another edition

This one is frustrating. On one hand, there's a few really good scenes like this one: "When they were alone, Isadora turned to Kat. 'He’s the one manipulating you, you realize that, right?' 'You don’t know him,' said Kat, trying to clear her head. 'I know his type,' said Isadora. 'Please don’t let them pressure you into doing this.' She reached her hand out to take Kat’s, looking over at Blake and the others to see if they were looking at them. 'Don’t doubt yourself, Kat. You shouldn’t have to do anything you don’t want just to make other people happy.' Kat thought that was ironic because she felt that was exactly what she had been doing her entire life. It was as if others’ happiness was entirely in her hands. It was always a matter of a choice between her happiness and someone else’s, and she wondered when she would start choosing herself." that give clear insight into the characters, handling toxic relationships well in a way that is honoring and honest while being YA friendly.

But as a whole, it seems like a dual timeline story telling the EXACT SAME STORY with minor character changes. It feels flat and mirror images of each other.

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nasabl3's review

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

I liked it but the writing didn’t feel that strong and there were some flaws

I enjoyed the retelling a lot, the way it told the legend of sleepy hollow through Kathrine’s perspective and what she thought of her potential suitors was extremely compelling, though could have used some first person. And the abusive boyfriend Blake was done actually and a good depiction as a warning to anyone who would be stuck with someone like him.

The pacing though, could use some work. It felt like a lot of plot points were rushed and didn’t get the build up or development they needed. Speaking mostly about Kay & Isadora, as cute as they are together their relationship was a bit too fast and didn’t really show how they got to being in love. That and the final scene felt a bit deus ex machina esc and too childish, like the end of Hocus Pocus 2.

This book really felt like it wanted to be a series and I think it would have done well that way, diving into other ghost stories and giving the audience time to get to know the protagonists and see how they fell in love but as one book the writing just wasn’t there. Still it is worth reading for the overall plot and the past story line so I am glad I picked it up and hope the author resides to give us a sequel.

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amaranth_wytch's review

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

3.5

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frispbabe's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

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megandherbook's review

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

A spin on the Headless Horseman legend - in the modern world.

Kat van Tassel is the direct descendent of Katrina van Tassel and has lived with the responsibility of carrying the name her whole life. As the 200th anniversary of the Headless Horseman haunting approaches Kat wants nothing more than to be kept out of the whole superstitious town and their celebration. She’s feeling more and more confined by the pressure of continuing her family legacy, marrying her long time boyfriend, and managing the family estate. When Isadora moves to town Kat starts to see a world where she leaves Sleepy Hollow and has a life outside of the confines of her legacy. With her family fearing this they give her Katrina’s diary so Kat can see just how real the legend is. As Kat learns more about her ancestor and namesake she learns that she may not be so different from her.

I really enjoyed this book. I love any book that has spooky undertones (or overtones) and this book set in the town of Sleepy Hollow has just that. The legend of the Headless Horseman is so engrained in the town and it’s people that a lot of the curriculum in the high school centers on it.

Getting to read from the perspective of both Kat and Katrina made me connect with both of them - they are both so much alike and I loved seeing Kat learn more about herself from Katrina’s experiences. Then, the tie in of the legend was perfect.

I’m familiar with the legend of Sleepy Hollow (as I believe most are) but I haven’t read the book. This book made me bump up that book on my reading list so I can see, first had, what allowed this book to be created so many years later. Highly recommend!

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