Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

106 reviews

idesofmarch's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

gwenswoons's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Medical content

tiddlerrr's review

dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

Very interesting, and an incredible depiction of how complicated familial (particularly sisterly) relationships can be. The narrator is simultaneously fiercely protective and adores her younger sister but seems to hold a lot of contempt and resentment for her and struggles with holding both of those things within herself. I also loved Korede’s friendship with Muhtar!

Not the sort of book I expected it to be when I first picked it up but I was pleasantly surprised by it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Sexism, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Toxic friendship

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

I really liked this book. I think the premise was interesting and the development of the story was cool. My issues stems from characters. Neither sister is particularly likable and neither is anyone else in this story. Pretty much everyone is a villain in my eyes. The doctor leads the main character on, the sister manipulates everyone, the mom coddles the younger sister, all of the coworkers seem either lazy or rude, the dad needs no explanation, and the main character can't decide whether to defend her sister or tell on her. I think this is another case of a book benefiting from some more content. It's still a good book just not the best. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, and Violence

missdeaddoll's review

funny fast-paced

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

3.5

2.5 stars. This was a cute and funny story. Less about murder, more about the relationship between Korede, the resentful and enabling older sister, and Ayoola, the beautiful younger sister that’s a serial killer. This is a mild thriller, not suspenseful or scary. I liked the format of this, with the short chapters that are almost like diary inputs. Makes this a good casual read. I didn’t like the tropes used nor the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Murder, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

te_ss_i's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Toxic friendship

izzybell's review

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

ckcombsdotcom's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-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

4.0

My feelings about this story are complicated. I'm not sure I'd say the characters are morally gray but the idea of right and wrong are complicated. 

Yeah 'complicated' is a theme.  

The writing is good, the characters are flawed and interesting and both easy and hard to relate to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

dibiz116's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Death, and Child abuse

Minor: Violence, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Emotional abuse

yomireads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

What I love most about this book are the evolving characters. From the beginning to the end of the book I wouldn't say there's a whole lot of growth for any character in particular; however, the non linear story-telling adds complexity to what could easy be written off as "she's good, she's bad, and its always been this way." Though through the haggard circumstances of murder, the fraught nature of sibling dynamics is well realized as they squabble with each other, harp about each other, and love each other.

Usually the overall lack of growth would be a very big disappointment to me, but the sense of dread and feeling of inevitability that surrounds the conclusion of this book feels very nuanced to me. And though it's a small change,

there is a sense of the sister's relationship become more resolute and settled.

 

Stylistically, I also found the chapters to be just a smidgen too short. I don't mind quick chapters, but sometimes keeping the chapters so brief feels like it's cutting the plot and story momentum off at the knees. I know this isnt a largely popular opinion, so take that as you will. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Misogyny and Gaslighting

Minor: Physical abuse and Medical content