A review by cheriepie
Gothikana by RuNyx

slow-paced

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

0.5

Wattpad writers are getting too bold these days. 

A five star reading experience in a point five star book though. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Dementia

Minor: Incest

The schizophrenia/psychosis in this book is handled with about as much care as your bags on Delta Airlines. Corvina's schizophrenia is almost always romanticized in some way (usually in the "maybe she has these hallucinations because she's so witchy and intuitive" way) and Vad is constantly making remarks about being her madness or whatever. Neither Corvina nor her mother have any symptoms of schizophrenia other than hallucinations, presumably because either the author did no research or because the other schizophrenia symptoms aren't very cool and mysterious. All this while also demonizing schizophrenia -- while

Corvina's mother is portrayed as mom of the year for the most part in spite of her schizophrenia and psychosis and never poses a threat towards Corvina or herself or anyone, Corvina's choice to institutionalize her mother is portrayed as the "right" choice. Presumably because schizophrenia is just such a scary mental illness while also being what makes Corvina so cool and mysterious.