Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas

3 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

elizabethwebb's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

seawarrior's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

This was a difficult book to read because of the subject matter, but it was written very smoothly. I really appreciated the messages about victimization and recovery that are weaved throughout the narrative. I was also relieved that the story ended on a note of acceptance, with Danny now knowing that life will always be ambiguous, and not all people are evil, and he doesn't have to sacrifice himself to play savior to people who aren't yet willing to put distance between themselves and their trauma. Those are troublesome but important lessons for all people to learn, especially when you have been victimized in the past. 

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.

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Content Warnings

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