Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

38 reviews

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

pizzaisjesus98's review

dark mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, and Hate crime

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, and Gun violence

Minor: Stalking, Slavery, Confinement, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Deportation

vsamek's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Death of parent

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Gun violence

walrus420's review

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

book_cave_ghost_girl's review

adventurous dark emotional fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

A beyond-fiery indictment of everyday and institutional racism and how it pushes ordinary people to extremes, like a bucket of ice water on your face

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Content Warnings

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

coolfijiwater'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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Police brutality

Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Death of parent

vigil's review

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Blood, Death, Cursing, and Racial slurs

librariabillie's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs

the_bees_books's review

challenging dark sad 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? No

3.75

For fans of Jordan Peele, Candyman, Lovecraft Country and the black horror genre. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Racism

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Gore, and Violence

grimdark_dad's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism