Reviews tagging 'Gore'

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

4 reviews

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this! I chose it based on the title, which got a laugh from me. But what I found was surprisingly excellent. 

Adam was born in a trailer and being gay in OK was rough on him, but then add in that he is descended from witches and has a touch of magic unlike theirs. He has a rocky relationship with his family, both due to his sexual orientation and his magical one, who had him committed in high school. 

This book focuses on Adam's relationships, his romantic ones, his familial ones, and his magical one. This is a story of a traumatized youth healing and finding his path in life while fighting monsters. 

Adam is amazingly well adjusted. He communicates his feelings, even if he struggles to do so, asks for help when he needs it and doesn't do the typical chosen one nonsense, even though he was literally chosen by not one but two powerfu  magical beings. He also is aware that his use of his magical abilities creates a power imbalance between him and the love interest and is careful not to abuse that. 

This was a fun and sad listen, and I am definitely going to be reading or listening to the rest. 


There were a few things I wasn't a fan of,

such as that Adam's first teenage relationship was an ancient elf who was supposed to be teaching him and that wasnt addressed as problematic.

But it could have been worse.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Miscarriage, Cursing, Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Bullying, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident

booksthatburn's review against another edition

The way the love interest is handled started to feel like copaganda. It sucks, because otherwise I was enjoying the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Gore

Moderate: Murder, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Violence, Death, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, and Suicide

Minor: Excrement, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Ableism, Cursing, Misogyny, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Drug use

frantic_vampire's review against another edition

adventurous 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

Don’t mind my puddle of tears, because this book had my emotions in a vice grip the entire time I was reading it 😭. Like, dear lord. I don’t think I’ve ever had this many feelings over a book in a while. 

Honestly, White Trash Warlock had me in tears from so many different things. But I think it was Adam’s abuse in the school/institution that really got to me. He was treated with such cruelty and yet he made it through and is still one of the sweetest and most caring people in this book! I also really liked the different layers to the family drama. It was so intense and real and just…so good.

The characters are so amazing in this book! Adam is just a sweetheart that deserves all the hugs in the world. Bobby might be a bit of an ass, but his heart is in the right spot. And Vic! I love him already. The world building in this book is also really great! I loved the switching between the spirit world and the real world. It’s a little triply and reminds me a little bit of Spirited Away.

I really loved White Trash Warlock. It was emotional in ways I didn’t expect. And honestly? I think I’ve found a new favorite series. This one is getting a solid five stars. I can’t wait to see what’s next. But first I have to go cry some more over this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Miscarriage

Flashbacks to abuse in a mental institution, flashbacks to physical and emotional abuse, internalized homophobia,

on screen parental death

, on screen gun violence

lanidon's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

Queer soul bond urban fantasy!!!!!!! Need I say more? I loved this so much. I want the sequel immediately. The world is really cool and I'm really rooting for all the main characters. Fantastic debut!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Violence