Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

45 reviews

e_l_k'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The dedication reads "For H.P. Lovecraft, with all my conflicted feelings." Little else can summarize what is special about this little book. It turns Lovecraft's fear rooted in bigotry on its head to tell a story of hidden magics and the aggressions of society, and the hell they unleash within one poor Black man. "What was indifference compared to malice?"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Suicide

eficca33's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.25

This book was a fairly short read but IMPACTFUL! It was sad and difficult to read at points (because of the sadness nothing) but necessary to read. This story is so nuanced in such a short amount of pages. Kudos to LaVelle. I will absolutely be looking forward to reading more of their work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Classism, Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Gaslighting, and Torture

shrachel_'s review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Blood, 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

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Content Warnings

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

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Death, Violence, Death of parent, 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

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Content Warnings

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

jaimc's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

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

laurareads87's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Well written, atmospheric, disturbing, and gripping.  The Ballad of Black Tom features strong character development in not a lot of pages and articulates social commentary without the story feeling weighted down by it.  This was my first Victor LaValle and I definitely look forward to reading more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Classism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Body horror and Blood

dosxhime's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Amazing, amazing. The writing and the plot was so perfect and atmospheric for this month of October. I will definitely reading more books by this author.  I literally goobled the Ballad of Black Tom and I didn't regret a single minute. Highly recommended for a quick, thrilling read! 

4.5 / 5 A 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Blood, Gun violence, Violence, and Gore

Minor: Racial slurs

loyddl's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.5

A nice book with mostly short chapters, you’ll be able to get through this one pretty quick. It did take me a minute to get into but I did enjoy it, especially as the book picked up in the second half. My one gripe is that the book changes perspective’s half way through. It would have been so interesting to read from the main character’s point of view (Tommy) instead of a side character in the more tense moments. Or at least see Tommy’s thought process leading up to the climax. If the book was a little longer it could have delved further into Tommy’s character arch while splitting the perspectives. But as it is, the book is still an enjoyable read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, and Police brutality

Moderate: Gore, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Blood