Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

65 reviews

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

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

sjedmondson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Murder

eliannamentzer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Grief, Death, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Racism, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault

elle_e_d_light's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

This book was dark, but Mottley did a fantastic job for a debut. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Drug use, Violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Trafficking

It's inspired by the 2015 Oakland Police Department sexual misconduct scandal.

cameronrae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

4.5

This story was heartbreaking. The adult content juxtaposed with Kiaras thoughts emphasized her youth and made her immaturity but also incredible strength shine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Rape

qqjj's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Excrement, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Cancer, Grief, Police brutality, Rape, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

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