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chewiesayrelax's review
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, 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
bookwyrmlady's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Decent Lovecraftian story with commentary on early 1920's racism in NYC. The plot fell apart towards the end and some lines were a little hokey. I enjoyed it well enough though and the climax was solid despite my complaints.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Racial slurs, and Racism
minayana's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
3.75
A really fun and quick read. I haven’t read the Lovecraft book this is based on, so I can’t say how it compares. The author does a great job creating a creepy atmospheric setting with some really beautiful writing. I really enjoyed Tom as a main character. I don’t think this needed to be a full length novel, but I think it definitely would’ve benefited with maybe 30-40 more pages. It was a bit disappointing not being to see Tom evolve, as it was done off screen, but it also made it more mysterious so it just depends on what you prefer. I also would’ve liked the immigrant characters to have an actual role. They were mentioned quite often, but none of them even had a line. There are also no female characters in this book, other than a supernatural entity. The book touches on racism, classism and police brutality in a really effective way. Overall, it’s a great novella that you can finish in one sitting. I recently purchased Lone Women by this author, and I can’t wait to read it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Police brutality, Body horror, Death, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Classism
stephanielee's review
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was my second Victor LaValle novel. This book is dark and magic filled. Tommy is our main character and he takes care of his disabled father by doing the only work he can- running errands. He finds things and delivers them to the right people. One day, he is approached by a rich white man to come to his house and play his newly purchased guitar for his guests. Which sets Tommy on a course of fantastical and horror filled adventures and he must figure out how to deal with all of this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, and Death
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
bi_n_large's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Racism, and Racial slurs
d0505's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Gun violence
Moderate: Racism and Death of parent
rodterez07's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Victor Lavalle is one of the most exciting contemporary authors in horror. The Ballard Of Black Tom is an ingenious reframing of a Lovecraft story centering and told from the perspective of an African American character. And in my opinion, this revision is far superior to anything Lovecraft, a virulent racist, ever wrote. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
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