forsythia_phlox's review
- 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
I don't even know how to explain Ring Shout. It was a wild ride I'm glad I boarded, and I would gladly get back in line to do it again if there were a sequel.
That I'm saying this about a book which heavily features the KKK and racism is stunning to me. The fact the story in question blends monsters, aliens, spirits, magic, witchcraft, and folklore together with such a heavy topic then spits it out as something both slightly campy and coherent amazes me.
There were a lot of places where I asked myself wtf was going on, but there were also plenty of points where I felt intense emotion or was just plain entertained. And, as with any good horror, there were parts that made my skin crawl with unease - especially a few gory scenes and the intense exploration of Maryse's past near the end.
Don't go into this if you hate reading in dialects (the entire story is written in such a way and there's one character with a very strong and hard to understand manner of speaking), don't want to deal with on-page racism including slurs, or can't handle serious body horror. Otherwise, though, I'd suggest giving it a chance. The subject matter nearly scared me away, and I'm glad I didn't let it.
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Body horror, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, Torture, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Grief, and Gore
babydog420's review
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Murder, Hate crime, Body horror, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Slavery, Religious bigotry, Animal death, War, and Death of parent
entityj's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery
Minor: Kidnapping, Vomit, Torture, Slavery, and Sexual content
bookcaptivated's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Racism, Body horror, Religious bigotry, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Slavery
aandromeda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry
merle98's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Violence
bookaquarius's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Violence, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Gore
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual assault