Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

21 reviews

earl_grey_without_lemon's review

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

I pretty much read this book in one sitting! It hooks you quickly, and I love the trope of searching for loved ones in thriller/horror. Full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes trying to figure out who took Caroline. I also loved the relationship between Liz and her mother, and the complicated ways that race and class and the way they are both publicly perceived impacted their relationship as mother and daughter (disclaimer that I am not Black, and therefore will miss many of the nuances in this relationship, and with Liz’s relationships with every other character in the book). The POV chapters of all of the girls who had gone missing previously were gripping, and I really liked that they gave life to each of the girls through the brief snapshots we see of them. The prose is easy to read and not overly flowery but effective. Pacing is excellent throughout the book, although I think I would have preferred a more drawn out resolution, and it does feel a little like some of the larger themes (especially regarding the history of the town and the man and his shadow) are not explored as fully throughout the book as they could have been. Overall, a really interesting and good read that had me at the edge of my toes (literally got off work and then read for three and a half hours). Erin E. Adams has crafted a compelling story that weaves horror, history, and social commentary that I would highly recommend and left me for sure interested in reading further works by her!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Kidnapping, Alcohol, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Racial slurs and Ableism

carolynkwolff's review

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, Classism, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence

storyofmaryam's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

After reading the author's not it was really seeing how the life of the author heavily inspired the setting of the story. i learned a lot about Appalachian history from the story and a reminder of how class and race are used by wealthy elites to maintain control. The main theme was the struggles, tension and violence that manifest from white working class communities against black families how structures of oppression stoke and encourage it. I'm not too keen on thrillers so I would say the third act wasn't as satisfying but overall an informative read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Kidnapping, Murder, Child abuse, and Child death

sargasso_c's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.75

This book is a marvel and should be taught in literature classes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Racism, Animal death, Gore, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Vomit, Abortion, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Bullying

tey_lynn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gore, Racial slurs, Animal death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Blood, Racism, Confinement, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

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

3.5

Liz experiences a racial awakening after becoming the prime suspect in her biracial goddaughter’s disappearance. Her search to clear her name compels her to solve the overlooked ritualistic killings of other Black girls. Slow start and pitiful main character but creative plot reveal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism

Minor: Racial slurs and Sexual assault

laguerrelewis's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Jackal was a powerful read, offering both an engaging thriller tale and a rumination on Black womanhood in predominantly white spaces. Adams’ writing is dripping in atmosphere, and Liz is a protagonist I cared for immensely. The mystery elements were surprising and kept me on my toes until its very satisfying conclusion, and the tension really builds in a way that keeps pages turning while still allowing for reflection and rumination. A perfect read for a chilly Halloween!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Body horror, Alcohol, Gore, Blood, Child death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, Murder, Police brutality, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Vomit, Sexual content, and Rape

kerrygetsliterary's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping, Body horror, Hate crime, Grief, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Blood, Gore, Child death, Gun violence, Death, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide, Bullying, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Racial slurs, and Vomit

Misogynoir. Missing person/child. Descriptions of corpses (human and animal).

dustghosts's review against another edition

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

3.75

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this— easy to devour and I found myself hanging on to the mystery. The writing style struck a strange balance between being too straightforward (telling not showing, as the phrase goes 🙄) and too vague, which left me a bit unsure at the beginning. The story and themes feel big, ambitious, like they are tackling a lot of different, lived aspects of classism, racism, and misogynoir at once— some more successfully than others. I actually quite liked the supernatural aspects, here— my only complaint being that I think the author could have left them more open-ended/vague, as I think what lets that part down is the same aspect I mentioned earlier (too clean to be unclear, too vague to be satisfying). This is a bit of a romp and appropriately troubling and thoughtprovoking throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Death, Hate crime, Child death, Toxic friendship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Gore, and Body horror

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Classism, Gaslighting, Blood, Violence, Vomit, Misogyny, and Grief