Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Reckless Kind

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath

7 reviews

xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

"Some do what's right, some do what they're told. I've been doing what I'm told for far too long." - Jørgen

This book is one I've been wanting to read since it was published, and I kept putting it off in favor of other things. It interested me because the blurb hints at a potential poly relationship, and that is so rarely seen in YA literature. This is even better than that.

This is a story of an entire generation reckoning with the harmful ideology of their hometown. Gunner and Erlend are gay. Asta is Ace. And the beautiful thing about this story is how they become family. The journey each of these three teens take to understand themselves and take charge of their own happiness is so touching. Then they find out it's NOT just the three of them against the world. They find almost as many allies as they do enemies in this town.

I loved the piety vs. sin theme that colored the backdrop of this historical fiction. Christianity destroyed so much in Europe by creating a system where any Outsider was going to hell. This town condemned an entire family because they did not follow the church.

Very slight spoilers ahead:

And the most perfect thing of all that this story does not end wrapped up nearly in a bow. Many of the characters here are disabled or end up with injuries that impact their daily routines. They don't magically heal. Other characters struggle with mental health issues. Those don't magically cure either. The religion doesn't automatically leave the town because a few teens decided they weren't going to submit to it.

It ended realistically, and it was perfect.

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kirstenf's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

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carolined314's review

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emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A story of queer, found family in 1904, with lots of learning to love one's self despite all kinds of flaws and faults.

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celestriakle's review

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sad medium-paced

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

0.5

This book gets half a star for having good bones. I was so excited for this book: a queerplatonic throuple racing horses in a historical setting is a concept rich with material and interesting avenues to explore, and unfortunately, this book explores none of them. The author--an American--claims to have done much research, but it's anachronistic in jarring ways and does next to nothing with the setting. This book could have taken place anywhere in nearly any other pre-1950s decade and remained unchanged. (Worse, Norway was having a major historical event in 1904 that should have impacted these characters, but doesn't.) Characters are punished for having period-accurate morals. The main throuple rarely seems to even like each other, and all characters outside it are neglected, never receiving care or development.

In spite of promises that these are disabled characters who are more than their disability, characters are never allowed to grow beyond their disability and the book plays into terrible ableist tropes. In the most egregious case,

one of the major characters acquires paralysis of the legs in the first third, and he spends the entire book afterward begging for death, believing himself a burden, and pushing away everyone who loves him. The pinnacle of his "acceptance" culminates in a near torturous scene where he summons superhuman strength out of nowhere and literally drags himself through a freezing, rushing river in winter to rescue someone while the entire cast watches. He never comes to accept help from others.

Finally, it is CRUCIAL to know that this author runs a farm animal sanctuary. This attitude towards animals colors the entire novel, leading to all sorts of peculiar choices. Every single major characters ends up a vegetarian by the end of the novel. One otherwise-sympathetic character is villainized as soon as he reveals he eats rabbit for dinner. (And there is no mention at all of these characters' attitudes toward fish, which likely would have been a major part of these characters' diets.)

Asta becomes obsessed with a piglet she held for two minutes and the second half of the book centers on her pursuit of this piglet.

In the end, you're left with the very uncomfortable impression that these characters care more for animals than each other or anyone else, as interpersonal relationships and physical health are neglected and abandoned for the sake of the assorted animals in the book. By the end, it feels very much more like an aesop about how cruel humans are to animals than anything else.

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cobwebshelves's review

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dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

2.0

"Maybe this is the nature of adulthood," Fuglestad considered. "Coffee and headaches. Parts that stop working."

Norway is very near and dear to me. I used to learn the language. It's still one of my dream countries to visit. So a historical fiction, set in Norway, with LGBTQ+ characters? That should've been perfect for me. So it broke my heart that I couldn't love it.

It's 1904, and the Fuglestad family is struck by tragedy. Two brothers, Gunnar and Fred, are severely injured in an accident. Their mother, Sigrid, dies. Gunnar's best friend Asta and boyfriend Erlend all come together to escape societal expectations and religious influences, to build a little family of their own and save Gunnar's home by finding a way to win the biggest event of the year - the Christmas horse race.

This book had some lovely moments of prose. It had sparks. The queer representation was lovely. The disabilities the characters live with don't magically disappear at the end. All these details I'm very appreciative of.

But for me, the pacing was the biggest problem. The first fifty pages are so fast you get a whiplash from everything that's happening. Then by the middle, it slows to a halt. And once you get to the final page, the epilogue feels like an afterthought.

I wish Gunnar had been a POV character. The back and forth between Asta and Erlend's POVs started to feel samey, especially when it stopped being Asta-Erlend and it was two or three chapters of just Asta-Asta-Asta in a row.

The side characters felt underdeveloped. I felt nothing for Mauritz or Oskar, or any of the names listed in the last paragraph. They were there to move the plot along, and I saw no true bond between them and the main trio.

The religious conflict got very uncomfortable at times, especially with the rampant homophobia that the townspeople shared.

Another reviewer I saw called it a trauma lasagna. And it really did feel like it. Tragedy after tragedy, in a very short amount of time, to the point where it got exhausting. I honestly feel that knowing from the getgo the kind of ending it'll have ruined it for me as well. At one point, during the race, one particular event that should've had emotional impact, only had me rolling my eyes. It could've done without the double physical injury for one person and the double concussion for the other. I know we all like torturing our characters sometimes, but that was a lot even by my standards.

There were good things in here. And it'll find its target audience. Unfortunately, it wasn't me.

Thank you to Soho Press and Netgalley for the early access.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts

"Maybe this is the nature of adulthood," Fuglestad considered. "Coffee and headaches. Parts that stop working." Norway is very near and dear to me. I used to learn the language. It's still one of my dream countries to visit. So a historical fiction, set in Norway, with LGBTQ+ characters? That should've been perfect for me. So it broke my heart that I couldn't love it. It's 1904, and the Fuglestad family is struck by tragedy. Two brothers, Gunnar and Fred, are severely injured in an accident. Their mother, Sigrid, dies. Gunnar's best friend Asta and boyfriend Erlend all come together to escape societal expectations and religious influences, to build a little family of their own and save Gunnar's home by finding a way to win the biggest event of the year - the Christmas horse race. This book had some lovely moments of prose. It had sparks. The queer representation was lovely. The disabilities the characters live with don't magically disappear at the end. All these details I'm very appreciative of. But for me, the pacing was the biggest problem. The first fifty pages are so fast you get a whiplash from everything that's happening. Then by the middle, it slows to a halt. And once you get to the final page, the epilogue feels like an afterthought. I wish Gunnar had been a POV character. The back and forth between Asta and Erlend's POVs started to feel samey, especially when it stopped being Asta-Erlend and it was two or three chapters of just Asta-Asta-Asta in a row. The side characters felt underdeveloped. I felt nothing for Mauritz or Oskar, or any of the names listed in the last paragraph. They were there to move the plot along, and I saw no true bond between them and the main trio. The religious conflict got very uncomfortable at times, especially with the rampant homophobia that the townspeople shared. Another reviewer I saw called it a trauma lasagna. And it really did feel like it. Tragedy after tragedy, in a very short amount of time, to the point where it got exhausting. I honestly feel that knowing from the getgo the kind of ending it'll have ruined it for me as well. At one point, during the race, one particular event that should've had emotional impact, only had me rolling my eyes.

It could've done without the double physical injury for one person and the double concussion for the other

. I know we all like torturing our characters sometimes, but that was a lot even by my standards. There were good things in here. And it'll find its target audience. Unfortunately, it wasn't me. Thank you to Soho Press and Netgalley for the early access.

pawprintsinthesink's review

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

Carly Heath’s The Reckless Kind sweeps readers away to a fictional island near Norway in 1904, as a trio of teenagers on the brink of adulthood decide to buck the status quo and live their lives authentically, even if it means isolating themselves from their community.

Asta is engaged to an older boy whom her mother thinks is the perfect match. Having a clump of white hair, a plain face, and being deaf in one ear makes the village think this boy is a hero for being willing to marry Asta. Meanwhile Asta herself has an ominous feeling about her impending marriage. Gunnar is physically and mentally recovering from the accident that claimed the life of his mother, hurt his brother, and left him with only one arm. Erlend is the quiet theater boy who has always felt on the fringe of everything. Gunnar shares Asta’s apprehension of her impending marriage, as he can’t bear to see his lifelong friend burdened with the weight of unending domesticity. They all take solace in their work at the theater, where they can be themselves without reproach.

Asta’s betrothed attacks Gunnar over their rehearsal kisses and announces he’s witnessed Erlend and Gunnar being romantic, sending everyone’s lives into a tailspin. Asta breaks off her engagement, Erlend and Asta are shunned by their families for their actions, and all three teens retreat up the mountain to live in a small cabin. With Gunnar’s family facing losing their farm over unpaid taxes, the three hatch a plan to save the farm and create a safe oasis for themselves by winning the Christmas race.

This book has great depictions of underrepresented groups. From LGBTQ+ characters to disabled characters, it’s refreshing to see underrepresented groups get to be the heroes in the story. The author gives a note at the beginning of the book that states that while she knows in reality these three would’ve been exiled and completely shunned by their community, she put in a few supportive characters to show what the world could be. I loved both the acknowledgment and the side characters who surprised the main characters with their support.

Heath gives a realistic demonstration of the struggle of chronic pain and life altering injuries without placing blame or faulting the characters. All three characters have ‘complaints’, or things they struggle with. Gunnar has his physical injuries and the resulting mental struggles that result from them; Erlend struggles with anxiety; and Asta has partial deafness. I appreciate how the author shows these things as facets that have affected the characters without them coming across as faults or things that need to be fixed. Everyone deserves to see themselves represented in media without being treated as something that needs to be fixed.

The plot is well-paced, action wise, while still being leisurely. Though the stakes are high, the characters are so self-sufficient and smart that I wasn’t worried for their well-being or safety; if one plan didn’t work, I had faith they’d find another and keep working at it. It’s a great book to curl up with next to a roaring fire as snow falls softly outside and you sip from a mug of hot cocoa. The cozy winter vibe makes this a perfect choice for those who like to read season-focused books.

The world building here is exquisite, as the day to day hardship of life is understood without it being spelled out on every page. Heath does an excellent job of setting up the world in which these characters reside in a succinct and memorable way.

I really appreciate the balance shown of those who accepted the type of life these three had chosen had those that continually shunned them, exiled them, or simply refused to acknowledge what they were doing. It struck a delicate balance of reality with the unforgiving nature in 1904 of how those who were different or deviated from the norm were treated, and the hope that comes from finding your people, those who accept you and love you as you are.

The Reckless Kind is a thought provoking read that will have you dreaming of snowy landscapes and rooting for the main characters to see themselves the way those who love them see them.

Carly Heath’s The Reckless Kind will be available November 2, 2021 from Soho Teen. Thank you to the author for offering me an advanced e-arc such that I could share my honest thoughts.

Stay tuned for an interview with the author later this week on the Paw Prints in the Sink blog!

Content Warnings

traeumenvonbuechern's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

[The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.]

CN: mentions of child abuse, violence, suicidal ideation, parent death, bodily injuries

I really liked this book! It contains so many things I love:

- queer rep (aspec and achillean)
- disability rep (especially Waardenburg Syndrome, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Brown-Séquard Syndrome)
- all main characters are queer and disabled
- queerplatonic triad
- found family
- cute horses
- lots of animal saving
- cozy winter atmosphere
- historical Scandinavian setting (Norway 1904)
- rebelling against outdated traditions

4 out of 5 stars! Go pre-order it!

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