Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

25 reviews

giasbookhaven's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Set in the contemporary present day of Lagos, My Sister, The Serial Killer delivers a gritty,  realistic account of Korede and her younger sister, Ayoola, lives. Their complicated relationship with men began with their misogynistic, abusive and serial cheater father.

In control, meticulous, detail oriented Korede has always looked out for her sister. Just because they're both adults, this is something that will never change. Even if she calls her to tell her she's killed her boyfriend--again.

Korede has accepted the past excuses from Ayoola about the men being abusive towards her and she acted out of fear. But following the third victim, the seeds of doubts begin to take root in Korede's mind. Knowing how everyone dotes on her younger sister for her beauty, charm and look of innocence Korede is all at one immune and immune to the affects that Ayoola has on her. The pull to protect her while being ashamed, doubtful and untrusting of her younger sister curve her actions and decisions everyday.

While I believe Ayoola's character is a narcissist, sociopath and manipulative, readers will discover where these characteristics originate as the story progresses and the source may be a shock. While I don't excuse or condone Ayoola's actions, the depictions and actions of all the male characters in this book were overbearing, obsessed with fast, beautiful girls, belittling dismissive and creepy to all the female characters. Which left me at a cross roads as Ayoola's view and opinion on men, especially those who were drawn to her, seemed to bring validity her actions on a subconscious level.

Even when the doctor Korede was in love with began to show interest in her, it was as if Ayoola indulging in the attention was her way of proving to her sister that he wasn't the knight in shinning armor she believed him to be. Likewise, Ayoola enjoyed the freedom of being able to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. As this was a consequential result of no one, not even Korede, making her face the consequences of her actions.

It started with the death of their father; Ayoola seemed to develop a taste for killing and killing men who were interested in her until she grew tired of them and wanted them gone, but in a real way. Even if Korede were to have outed Ayoola, I felt that they were too use to/connected with each other for it to have made a difference at that point. Because even with all her doubts, worries and suspicions, Korede remained quiet in the end.

Besides the element of blood and death in this book, readers please check the TWs as the text references, minor/adult relationship, assault, domestic abuse, child abuse, blood and infidelity. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

thebookishwizard's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

An amazing read, I the writing alone earns it's 5.0 star rating. The main character is morbidly relatable and makes one reflect on what lengths one would go for their family. I have a few gripes with parts of the ending but not enough to bring down the score, truly an exquisite read that I can not recommend more.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury

mockingjayx16's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

callme_tippy's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was a nice quick read that kept me interested from beginning to end. 

I really loved the style this was written in, it has very short chapters and it told in fragments kind of which works really well for the plot of this. I think it was great the way it's treated seriously but not too seriously. It was the perfect amount of suspense for a short read. 

This was great little dive into family ties and bonds, societal expectations, family expectations, and how to navigate right and wrong, when the wrong-doer is the only one in your corner. 

I can't wait to try another one of Braithwaite's books!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

torturedreadersdept's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

meat_muffin's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

3.0

Absolutely INFURIATING, I hate all of them

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

joensign's review against another edition

dark 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

erinkellyreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

 A tense, quick thriller that will have you frustrated and engaged from page one. I loved that it was told in short vignettes; it kept the pacing up as well as gave you nuggets of information one at a time. I was frustrated by the characters, but it also all made sense. Definitely a must read! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Fire/Fire injury

kickitupanotch7's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism

augustinedreams's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol