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rynstagram's review
4.0
I love how this book uses pop culture references to anchor the plot, as well as the names of people and ghosts.
I've always thought that trans-ness and queerness have a lot in common with being a ghost, and this book explores that as well as how trauma in general has a lot in common with ghostliness.
It has kind of a slow start and the pacing could be a bit better, especially with Danny's friendship with Seiji, and the last chapter is kind of a quick summary of how everything wraps up which I don't always love.
But I was surprised by how much depth and heart this book has; I love being caught off guard with a good book turning quickly into a great one!
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Transphobia, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Violence, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Incest, Alcohol, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Minor: Torture and Terminal illness
elizabethwebb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Deadnaming, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Incest, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Abandonment
corvidprince's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I'll just start with this book being needlessly triggering. if you have PTSD from anything this book is not for you, and I cannot stress this enough. Almost every single traumatic experience you could think of is described in gruesome and unnecessary detail. I understand that some description of trauma is necessary, but this book was over the top.
one of the main characters, and Dani's best friend, is also a blatant TERF, and I do not use that word lightly. throughout the entire book I was expecting them to fall out with each other, and to some extent that did happen, but Dani still forgives her and still wants to be friends even though the character is blatantly a radical feminist and transphobic--right down to believing Dani is betraying women and joining the enemy by transitioning.
those two things along with a couple of distasteful trans tropes just ruined the entire book for me. it had so much potential but it was completely butchered.
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Alcoholism
Minor: Homophobia
seawarrior's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I recommend this book to other readers, but please take note of the content warnings. The story does not shy away from descriptions of physical, sexual, and incestuous assault, though thankfully these events are described on the survivor's own terms.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Violet Ghosts is a book about the past, trauma, and friendships. It is a very intense book and I had to not only take breaks, but I also was kept awake at night by some of the imagery. Yes I am a big scaredy cat, but I also felt like there are some harrowing scenes and I wish I had spread the book out across more days than I did. My favorite element has to be the ways Thomas uses the ghosts as metaphors for dealing with our trauma. Trauma, and dealing with it, making peace with the past, and forgiveness are huge issues in Violet Ghosts. And just based on that, you can see how a lot of our language surrounding death, grief, and loss lend themselves to excellent metaphors with ghosts.
I immediately empathized with Dani's character not only because of the ways he has to deal with a friendship that turns toxic, but also his romance storyline. Nothing is simple in Violet Ghosts and even days later I'm not sure how I feel about a few aspects. At multiple points in the book I thought I had a handle on how the book would progress and I was so wrong each time. From the synopsis, this seems like a book that is very focused on dealing with the ghosts, but it's more about Dani. About his own ghosts and trauma and future.
The ghosts are a large part of the story, but they're more an avenue of how Dani processes his life. While they have their own stories, I always felt that this story is rooted in Dani's experiences. Because of that, some of the messages that are told through the ghosts stories, felt a little shallow compared to the book and Dani's story.
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Transphobia, Pedophilia, Incest, Deadnaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
betweentheshelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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This is a seriously heavy book, and it took me a little to get into it. Stay tuned for a full review to come on Thursday!
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Transphobia
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
spearly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
TW: sexual assault, rape, murder, toxic relationship, sexual abuse, physical abuse, suicide, transphobia, homophobia, dead-naming
This book was nothing like what I was expecting. The blurb made it seem a bit more mysterious, a bit more high energy. But Thomas has written an expressive, impactful story about a trans boy who can never seem to escape his own ghosts, literally and figuratively.
Violet Ghosts was a quick read! It had a handful of complicated characters, characters who have all been traumatized by something, either in life or death. Readers get the wisps of a thrill, a darkness to the book, but unfortunately, it never feels too fully formed. I can't speak on it too much, as I am not a victim of trauma in the ways that Sarah, Patricia, and Dani are, and everyone processes their past in their own ways, but the book felt almost.... passive on the atrocities that these characters face. It focuses more on trying to exorcise evil ghosts than to make any sort of commentary about what our characters are going through. Perhaps this was the point. All I know, is I was left for wanting.
I think this could have made a really great thriller if Thomas had chosen to take it in that direction. As it stands, it felt a bit lacklustre for me.
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Alcoholism, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Torture, Suicide, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Incest, Grief, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Cancer, Bullying, Blood, and Addiction