Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

44 reviews

pkc's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

It would be weird to summarise a book like this by saying whether I “enjoyed it” or not. It’s not the sort of the book where there’s much to enjoy in terms of a bleak plot and a pervading sense of hopelessness. I will say, there are snatches of poetic writing in amongst the darkness that Kiara, the protagonist is subject to. I also think Kiara is an excellently realised protagonist. Her arc is perfectly plotted and it’s easy to follow her story and invest in her life. 

I will say though, if you’re looking for a neat and traditionally happy resolution, this book won’t do it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Medical content, Bullying, Suicide, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Rape, Addiction, Drug use, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

annamgoodman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Cancer, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Cursing, Blood, and Self harm

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

In the author’s note, Leila Mottley writes that when she was a teenager a story broke how members of the Oakland Police Dept and several others participated in the sexual exploitation of a young woman and tried to cover it up. She says she was 17 and “contemplating what it meant to be vulnerable, unprotected and unseen.”

Kiera and her brother Marcus are living in an East Oakland run-down apartment complex while the rent keeps going up astronomically. Marcus is trying to make it as a music star and Kiara is just trying to make rent, even if it involves relationships with men who take advantage of her by Nightcrawling. 

Such a tough read but she definitely tells the story of these women for these women.

“I am telling her how these streets open us up and remove the part of us most worth keeping: the child left in us.” P267

“Number one rule about entering somewhere you not supposed to enter us don't never guestion none of it. Don't ask nothing and don't act like you don't know what you doing because that'll land you right where you don't wanna be.” P235

“That was before I learned that life won't give you reasons for none of it, that sometimes fathers disappear and little girls don't make it to another birthday and mothers forget to be mothers." P81

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Vomit, Child death, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Gun violence, and Sexual assault

_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

jamieruwen's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

A true freight trains of misfortune hits our protagonist and boy is this novel a powerhouse full of trauma, love, and resilience. I loved Kiara so much; her strong personality and convictions, as well as the care and love she has for Marcus, Trevor and Alé are so admirable and I deeply empathised with her. I had such a clear picture of what the environment and the characters looked like without there being obtrusive descriptions; this novel is simply very well constructed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Vomit

selenyigini's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Child death, Abandonment, Drug use, Gun violence, and Child abuse

Minor: Classism

libby_bebby's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Gun violence

hilarylouise's review against another edition

dark slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Police brutality

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Self harm

Minor: Transphobia

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicide, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Violence, Drug use, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Alcoholism

Minor: Mental illness, Gore, Terminal illness, Grief, Vomit, and Confinement

srobertson's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Misogyny, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Classism, Child death, Death, Grief, Racism, and Trafficking