Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas

2 reviews

rynstagram's review

4.0

*review based on an ARC

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!

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Content Warnings

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

corvidprince's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

I wanted to like this book, I really did. When I first heard about a book with ghosts, a transgender & disabled main character, this book became a must read. Unfortunately, it really just did not live up to anything I hoped it would be. 

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.

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Content Warnings

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