Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Godshot by Chelsea Bieker

19 reviews

apriless's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I only wanted to read this because I am from the area where the author set this story and grew up adjacent to before becoming involved in familiar religious circles.

Themes around true believers, gifts/acts of the spirit, girlhood, puberty, sexuality and assignments for women around long-suffering hit the hardest. The god glitter was a fun mention. There's this way that Lacey May does/does not engage the world that felt super familiar. She at once wants to feel chosen by those around her yet also "wanted a different world. One that did not exist." She is, afterall, a young girl, and I do not believe in any judgment against her for simply surviving. Sometimes you survive by seeking affirmations. Sometimes you survive by dreaming of new worlds. And sometimes too, you survive by making friends with the witchy, gothy women who lean into having been cast out from the beginning. I probably related too hard to be objective about anything, but I welcome this story in my own after-life where I try to make sense of my childhood from far away.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Rape, Alcohol, Incest, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Pregnancy

smotola's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Sexual violence

notsogabbygabby's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Incest, Abandonment, and Alcoholism

lindsaysymes's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

hatjane's review

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Abandonment, Incest, and Suicide

defeating_my_demons's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death

aalfie's review

dark reflective 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? No

5.0

this book made me want to crawl out of my skin but i know i’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Alcoholism, Vomit, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

sarahholliday's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.25

Godshot is one of those books that I can't say I enjoyed...but it's stuck with me, and I that can be more meaningful in the long run when it comes to stories.

If I had to describe the story in a single word, it'd be: BLEAK. A relentless study in just how gross and awful humans can be, there's also the added weight of climate change, broken-down familial relationships, and an oppressive sense of hopelessness. 

But that might be why the ending (I won't spoil anything here, don't worry) is so beautiful. There are no "easy" answers or perfect happily-ever-afters, but there is hope. Bieker forces readers to sit in the truly miserable, to face the realities experienced by so many, in order to point out the ability of love, kindness, and beauty to exist in the most unlikely of places. There's no sentimentality in that idea, either. Just a simple yet deeply-rooted conviction that things can be truly awful and occasionally wonderful all at the same time. 

This is definitely not a book for everyone, but it'll go on my recommendation list nevertheless and I'll be waiting to run across the right reader.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Suicide, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, and Gaslighting

gotabookforeverysituation's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Incest, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicide, Child death, Death, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Car accident, Abortion, Confinement, Vomit, Bullying, and Blood

geminireader's review

dark emotional reflective slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

If you can stomach the content, it is a really brilliant read. The writing is so unique and the story is very bizarre and unlike anything I’ve ever read. Using the cult setting really tied to the themes well. Not a book I would ever recommend for its very disturbing content, but if you feel drawn to it, you will not regret this read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Addiction, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Infertility

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Minor: Suicide, Confinement, and Kidnapping