Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

40 reviews

itsemmaofc's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Violence, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Racism

kieshab84's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

5.0

Whooo! This book! This book was a trip! I was not expecting this. I had know knowledge of the source material that inspired this book other than the obvious. I spent the first half of the book wondering when Black Tom would come in, and when he did it was a huge surprise for me. I thought the person who became Black Tom died. Guess what? He didn't. 

It's a short book. Less than 2 hours to read according to my Kindle. Definitely pick it up if you've got time to kill.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, and Blood

turidt's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racism, and Body horror

Moderate: Police brutality

saintgroovy's review

challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

5.0

This book is a gut-punch in the best of ways. Wrapping racially motivated violence with the occult and the most bittersweet stories of apocalyptic revenge, The Ballad of Black Tom was an experience I’m glad to have had. In the end, you can only see yourself how much Charles Thomas Tester has lost at the hands of violently bigoted white cops, and ask yourself what’s sweeter: avenging your family or escaping with your soul.

---

Content Warnings

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

tey_lynn's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Racial slurs, Violence, Gun violence, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

kochi's review

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gore, Racism, and Death

kwims's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, and Body horror

finchthearcher's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Death of parent, Gore, Racism, Gun violence, and Violence

bkwrm1317's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Another great read by LaValle. 

Jazz Age NYC (Harlem, Queens, and Brooklyn esp) Black man in his early 20s just trying to get by without breaking his body gets roped into a job that changes everything, and everyone, around him. Sorcery, things that wait in the deep, and corrupt white cops will keep readers on edge in this cosmic horror novella. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Death and Gore

zoe_celeste123's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

This is a wonderful rendition of Lovecraftian lore that captures the essence of eldritch horror while also addressing and critiquing the racism and xenophobia in Lovecraft's original stories. This is a story I will remember for a very long time. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Xenophobia, Murder, and Hate crime