A review by kristenjk22
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

My Dark Vanessa is a poignant story with a beautifully crafted plot. Russell’s Lolita retelling is well done as you see the confusion, the manipulation, the loss and the pain which Vanessa has to navigate. It is an important work because it highlights SA survivors’ experience. The reader feels the complicated feelings a young girl may experience, while also understanding the ways in which the predator is manipulating and controlling the victim.