Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

104 reviews

grets_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Transphobia, Grief, Cursing, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Deportation, Dysphoria, Abandonment, and Confinement

njh_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

A bunch of friends recommended this one and I'm glad I read it. It was thoughtful, sweet, adventurous, heartwarming, a bit spooky, a bit historical, and a bit dramatic all rolled into one.

Reading this story also over the dates they happened added a bit of extra magic to it. Finishing the story in the early morning/late night hours of Dia de Muertos was like being in the story.

 

I will say I saw Tio Catriz as the murderer pretty quickly. I had my suspicions earlier on, but my red flags went up when Lita told the legend of Bahlam. By the time we got the half heard argument between Catriz and Enrique (which Yadriel thought was about him), it sealed the confirmation for me...and that was 100+ pages before we actually found out Catriz was the murderer.

I enjoyed all the friendship shown in the story and the interactions the characters had. It felt so realistic and also just kids being kids in the circumstances they find themselves in. Maritza was wonderful and I enjoyed the scenes with her dogs.

Julian and Yadriel are quite cute and the playful teasing is fun. The slowly blooming relationship was reminiscent of teenage years and I loved that Yadriel's mom, Camila, got to meet him in the epilogue. The reunion with his mom was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. 

 

Apparently the book should have sequel in 2024, so looking forward to that! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Torture, Murder, Transphobia, Violence, and Child death

Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Deadnaming

Minor: Car accident and Alcohol

mattyb's review

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Grief, Dysphoria, and Transphobia

Minor: Medical content, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Deportation

aerietta's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Moderate: Transphobia, Death of parent, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Physical abuse, Car accident, Child death, Deadnaming, Medical content, Alcohol, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and Kidnapping

styxx's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, Kidnapping, Deadnaming, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

jareadforfilth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? No

5.0

People told me I needed to read this book for the loooongest time and I kept meaning to, but other books just kept jumping it’s place on the queue. I’m so happy that I finally took the time to read this book because it was INCREDIBLE!! I figured out the mystery and the villain fairly early on, but even so the way it turned out had me on the edge of my seat, heart racing!! Also there was a GLORIOUS twist that I didn’t guess at or see coming.

The trans/queer representation here is impeccably executed and while the struggles of our trans teen protagonist are a large focus of the book, Thomas does an outstanding job of letting Yadriel have an identity beyond just his transness and his struggle for acceptance. Yadriel is such a vivid, wonderful character who shines in his convictions and his tenacity. Julian is such a goof and I fell in love with him and his excitement for life and reckless abandon. Maritza is such a baddy and she is the kind of friend and family that we should all be lucky enough to have.

Lastly, the cultural richness of this book is so beautiful. Centering largely around the preparations for and celebration of Día de Muertos, the colors and vibrancy of the holiday were so paramount and honestly took on an almost character of their own. The spirituality and reverence were wonderful and beautiful and I’m so grateful to have been able to witness that on these pages.

This book is an absolute must-read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Death, and Transphobia

Minor: Deadnaming

merah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

the writing is absolutely incredible. 
I felt every single emotion while reading this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Transphobia, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Medical content, Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Body horror, Deportation, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Dysphoria

Minor: Car accident, Confinement, Alcohol, Cancer, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Deadnaming

loads of knives, blades, cuts and stabbings

eve81's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Self harm

kalzeb's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Blood, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Deadnaming and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, and Grief

braveprincess11's review

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Aidan Thomas has become an instant-buy author for me after this. I can’t believe this was his debut novel!

It’s beautifully written, has a diverse cast of characters, the representation is incredible… and the story! The story is so gripping; I fell in love with Yadriel and his family from the moment they were introduced. His relationship with Maritza is so heartwarming and beautiful. Watching Yadriel and Julian’s friendship grow throughout the book, and seeing Julian’s relationship with his friends… 

I can’t wait to see what else Aidan Thomas comes out with; Sunbearer Trials has officially skyrocketed up my tbr 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Kidnapping, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Car accident