Reviews tagging 'Torture'

When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

72 reviews

nicole625's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense

4.25

It didn't feel as gothic as I imagined it would be. The way that history and the modern story blend is very impactful. However, it felt like some of the character reactions were so mild that it almost dulled the impact. For example, Mira believes that

Jesse has been shot and killed by an angry mob

but the way it's written is so blunt and short, that it feels like it loses some of the emotional impact. Overall, a really interesting story that's difficult because of the absolute atrocities described throughout (literally like ALL the trigger warnings).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, and Cannibalism

hillysreads's review

dark 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

kaneebli's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, Torture, Trafficking, and Murder

Minor: Domestic abuse

abirej's review

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

“I guess I thought what good is it knowing about the past when it can’t help me now?” Mira’s mother asks the question so many Americans have claimed as their reason for avoiding the darkness and cruelty of our country’s history. McQueen delivers a deeply compelling, literally haunting reason for knowing our past, for owning our part in it; rather than introspective naval gazing, learning our ancestoral stories explains so much of who we are and where we’re going as a nation. Definitely trigger warning for intense violence, torture and sexual assault in flash back scenes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

bloupibloupreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Torture

Moderate: Rape

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

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

3.5

Mira was an unlikeable FMC who gave ‘go along to get along’ vibes until 75% in, plus I wasn’t a fan of the romance subplot. This was less intentional horror and more like accurately writing about Black history is naturally horrific (i.e. the skinning scene). It felt like the author was overwhelmed with multiple ideas and didn’t know how to adequately wrap them up, leading to an abrupt ending. I wish there was more time spent on the character dynamics, but the rest of the premise was strong enough to balance it out for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Hate crime

Minor: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Rape

calatheacat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gun violence

molsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Murder

amandinesophie's review

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I was loving this one until the last part. It went all over the place and I just wasn't as engaged anymore. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Blood

scarroll178's review

dark informative mysterious 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? N/A

5.0

If you are considering DNF’ing this book, I urge you to read it all the way to the end. The way the author pulls everything together at the end is unbelievable and should be studied in classes.

This book is horrifying and tragic and so enlightening about American history. Never heard about Cartwright’s Theory until this book, for example.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Murder