Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

54 reviews

wordsareworlds's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? No

5.0

This is a masterfully written alternate history cosmic horror. Clark reclaims space in a genre that has too often tried to force Black people into the role of monster, turning the mirror back on those racist tropes while celebrating Black culture and history in a multitude of ways. 

I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a face paced, gripping story that incorporates both mystical and actual horrors with a strong sense of heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, and Body horror

Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content

jacob_dion's review

dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

boba_n_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.5

If you're looking for a Lovecraftian horror mixed with black girl magic, you've found it in Ring Shout. 

I love how this novella blended history with fantasy to create a horrific yet captivating story. Our three main characters, who are black resistance fighters, go up against Ku Kluxes that are literally and figuratively demonic. Their hate has allowed them to be possessed by demons. 

The pacing was exceptional, and the characters were well-developed, which is especially impressive for this being a novella. As for the story itself, it is creative in its horror and informs the reader of the historical context of the KKK at the time--the 1920's. The audiobook gave me a cinematic experience where I could picture each character clearly in my mind. The writing is incredible, and I was thoroughly entertained by this novella. The only criticism I have of this story is that I wish it was longer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence and Slavery

alexalily's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Racism, Blood, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Violence, and Death

Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, and Slavery

erebus53's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I had no idea what this book was about, except Race friction/violence, and was surprised to find that it was a supernatural fantasy/horror story set in an alternate world version of North America. In a world where Racial hatred has been fomented by the KKK (who have actual Grand Wizards) only those people with The Sight can see the true form of the monsters awakened in men filled with hate. Foul Magicks are worked and in a horrid twist of the knife a popular movie contains the Workings to bring forth all sorts of horrid beings through the Veil (by inciting people to Hate).

A group of scrappy monster-hunting girls lay traps for the awakened monsters that they call "KluKluxes" which they attempt to dispel with bombs, guns and a magical sword. Back home, people are using whatever resources they can to keep their families safe, from science, to the elders' gris-gris and ancestral rites.

The main character has dream visits with other beings who she relies on as spirit guides, and who she sees as "Aunties". It seems that her destiny is tied up, and she is called to action to stop the re-release of that popular old movie, which will allow the KKK to raise an old god. She must use her power and wisdom to defeat the manifestations of Racial Hatred.

Some parts of this story are pretty trippy, and it's got a whole monster killing Buffy vibe, but in a much less White girl context lol.

The end of the story seems to indicate that there is possibly another would-be hero out there.. and from the gist of it I could see the follow up being from the point of view of a personal journey of a White boy who needs to turn his back on the lure of bigotry.. but I really don't know how the vibe would work that way around.. could go either way if there was a sequel, but the creepy otherbeing world, and the slipping in-between, going inside flesh-trees,  and vision quest type feel, is a really cool interweaving of fantasy elements.. and there are emotionally resonant bits in the end of the story that deliver nicely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Bullying, Colonisation, Cursing, Racism, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Hate crime

Minor: Slavery

ilaxaria'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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, Gun violence, Violence, Death, Gore, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Slavery

qqjj's review

challenging dark tense medium-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

3.0

I thought this was well-written and had important themes....but it was a stretch for me in terms of the horror and gore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Animal death, Vomit, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Murder

guinness74's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Not what I was expecting, but a powerful story. I suppose I should have realized that a Hugo/Nebula award winning writer’s book would include some element of fantasy, but I think I added this without paying attention to that element. Still, if you enjoyed ‘Lovecraft Country’ you’re going to love this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Slavery, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Child death and Hate crime

Minor: Sexual content

j_squaredd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

3.75

Dark fantasy dealing with important, heavy topics through a group of demons that want to take over the world. I wish this were a full length novel so you could really get to know the characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Gun violence, Medical content, Racism, Racial slurs, Animal death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent

wyabook234's review

dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Violence, Gore, and Gun violence