Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

17 reviews

blacksphinx's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

I don't normally read this kind of book - a modern crime thriller. I heard good things about it through the grapevine, and I was overwhelmed with hours and hours of tasks at work that would keep my hands busy but nothing to think about it. I checked it out from the library on a whim and I've been amazed at how good it was.

S.A. Cosby knows how to put words in front of each other, really painting a vivid image of this rural southern community and its conflicts. This is only enhanced by Adam Lazarre-White's incredible narration which brought each character to life. I found this book to really take its ideas and themes seriously and with the level of nuance they deserved, even if I felt some points could have been pushed farther or were fumbled. It hit more often than it missed.

I wouldn't say it's perfect? There's a question I wanted answered that didn't, there's a romantic plot line that I felt didn't really add anything, and sometimes I found the narration to be repetitive (yes there's a serial killer running around and you want to catch him, I've been reading the book I know this!). But when the book finished playing, I didn't think it detracted enough from my overall enjoyment and appreciation to give the book anything less than 5 stars. I am absolutely going to go and read the rest of S.A. Cosby's books now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Gore, Racism, Racial slurs, Blood, Death, Torture, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Mass/school shootings, Classism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pedophilia

Minor: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Addiction, Pregnancy, and Excrement

There is a brief description of an unseen character dying from HIV/AIDS in the 80's.

jennneely82's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Kidnapping and Violence

Minor: Alcohol and Addiction

corpoto's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, and Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Gun violence, Hate crime, Slavery, Sexual violence, Mass/school shootings, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Addiction

tlaynejones's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

I enjoy SA Cosby’s books, they are fast paced and compelling reads which include some interesting social commentary. Having said that they have more of a profoundly masculine feel than most books I would consider reading. This is not necessarily good or bad, but is noteworthy for its consistency and thoroughness. This is a world of straight cis men relating to other straight cis men. There are a few peripheral women, but they aren’t fleshed out, and mostly just provide a reflection for the male character to bounce off of. There were no identified or implied queer characters in this book. Considering Cosby’s last book was an examination of homophobic toxic masculinity in Black southern men, I found this interesting. 
I plan on continuing to read Cosby, as a queer woman I do understand the desire to immerse yourself in and explore the subculture to which you belong. Especially when that culture is largely erased and oppressed by the dominant images. But a part of me does wonder if Cosby’s love of, and questioning of, his culture will include more feminism in the future?
CW for ALL the violence in this book. Including towards children. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Racism, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, and Classism

Moderate: Trafficking, Child abuse, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Drug use, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence

feralbookwife's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

S.A. Cosby can take tropes of thrillers and make them deeper, darker, and more compelling. A tangled web of morality, Christianity, identity, secrets, and the many forms of violence in a society. This was the first thriller to make me cry. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Ableism, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexism, Slavery, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Torture, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Stalking, Chronic illness, and Classism

chessakat's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual assault, Gore, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mass/school shootings, Cursing, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Grief, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, and Drug abuse