Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

17 reviews

h_eliz's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Child death, Rape, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Police brutality, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Vomit, Classism, Gun violence, Addiction, Racism, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Transphobia

libellumartinae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I don't know how to feel this book. I didn't expect an easy read when I first started it but I certainly didn't expect either what it came with. The story is so scarily terrifying, especially upon discovering it's based on real facts, and I absolutely felt interesting the whole context and plot in which the author developed it, switching swiftly from a more journalistic style or a more personal one that allows to see in time everything the main character feels while also following the trail of events.

I didn't fully enjoy the writing and I thought that the ending was a mess, because although I understood how it finished at the same time I felt like it could have handled with a bit more of slowness.

It's utterly a story that will stay on my chest for days and won't leave me. It's an haunting tale that I'd encourage you to read - obviously being aware of the tws - because it certainly will help you on understanding and opening your eyes on different aspects of our rotten society.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Transphobia, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Child death, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Death, Self harm, Sexual violence, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

_meeg's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Grief, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Child death, Death, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Gun violence, Abandonment, Sexual content, Violence, Addiction, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Hate crime, Police brutality, Classism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Racism, and Sexual violence

kmbutcher's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Suicide attempt

sidekicksam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

3.75

Kiara is on the cusp of adulthood, but has been dealing with adult issues for most of her life. Since her father died, her mother is at a halfway house, and her brother is chasing a dream of becoming a rapper, coming up with the rent falls to mostly her. 

What a stunning debut novel. It is apparent that Mottley is a poet, as her writing style is lyrical and explores themes as racism, sex work, poverty and oppression without making it overly graphic or horrifying to read, which is quite a feat. 

For me personally, the lyrical/poetic writing style also made it more challenging to get through, as I kept zoning out and took quite a bit of time to read each section, but the story grabbed me by the collar and made me keep reading. 

If you liked this, watch The Florida Project or read On The Savage Side, and if you particularly liked the writing style I recommend Caleb Azumah Nelson or The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Harrowing! Child turns to sex work to pay bills thanks to deadbeat family. Horrifyingly inspired by true events. NB ACAB! 3🚔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Racism, Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Child death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness

tarnya_smith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book has many trigger warnings so please check those first. 

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator on audio did a great job. Tackles the brutality of cops with the black community, especially black women. This was dark, this was raw, gave me insight into America, PoC's lived experiences, the law and cops, the life of a sex worker, many things I've never read before. It was very well told, honest but with emotion. 

Despite the mess she got caught up in, I was just routing for Kiara the entire time hoping it got better for her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Hate crime, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Police brutality, Trafficking, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Rape

largeicedtea's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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? No

4.0

Writing a review for Leila Mottley's "Nightcrawling" is going to be a real challenge. I have to acknowledge this novel would be a triumph for any artist, let alone one who is so young. You can tell it was written by a poet by the careful crafting of each sentence, the beautiful turns of phrase, the vivid imagery and tenderness toward our protagonist Kiara. Mottley has an ear for language and I think she's going to make even more profound and award-winning work in the future.

That said, this was an absolutely brutal read. I was drawn in by the gorgeous book cover and mysterious one-word title, neither of which clued me in to how heartrending Kiara's story would be. There were times I had to set down the book and close my eyes for a moment's peace. While I understood Mottley's message and knew there could be no happy ending when one teenaged Black girl goes up against the Oakland Police Department, it was still punishing. I do not mean to be flip when I say I'll need to read several upbeat books to cleanse my mind after "Nightcrawling."

I wish this author the best and look forward to seeing what's next for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Grief, Confinement, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Rape, Abandonment, and Drug use

bambooboy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Transphobia, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Classism, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Vomit, Colonisation, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence