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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year so far, it's really cool to see my hick ass culture shown in a fantasy book. While I wish we could have gotten a bit more positive aspects shown off, I'm just happy to be here.
I love how this book and it's characters are just unabashedly themselves (Even though Adam does his best to fight it.)
My only real complaint with the story is the ending felt... hollow? I'm not sure how to put it to words. It felt like Adam didn't do much in the end to defeat Mercy. Also after all the hemming and hawing about using "Dark Magic" he didn't feel at all changed or affected by it. Not too mention the Elves seemed not to care in the slightest bit! Definitely a confusing message to me at least.
I can't wait to read the other books!
I love how this book and it's characters are just unabashedly themselves (Even though Adam does his best to fight it.)
My only real complaint with the story is the ending felt... hollow? I'm not sure how to put it to words. It felt like Adam didn't do much in the end to defeat Mercy. Also after all the hemming and hawing about using "Dark Magic" he didn't feel at all changed or affected by it. Not too mention the Elves seemed not to care in the slightest bit! Definitely a confusing message to me at least.
I can't wait to read the other books!
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Gun violence
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
ZVery enjoyable, not sure how i missed this when it came out. Will read the upcoming sequel.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pros: a heartbreakingly accurate depiction of family trauma
Cons: For a story that starts out critical of institutional violence, it becomes weirdly pro-cop.
It’s a little hard to tell if this is overtly pro-police messaging though, or if it’s intended to be a little more ironic and nuanced. If we’re supposed to take things like the mom saying “everyone is so mean to police” at face value, or if the author is setting something up here for the cop character to learn something in future books.
The story does an incredible job of filtering truth through experience, building understanding of a situation from one perspective, then intermingling counter-narratives in a way that has you reassessing how you feel about all of them. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if there ends up being more depth to the “I just like good guys and heroes” love interest.
Or maybe the author just has a thing for machismo, and I’m reading too much into it.
All in all, very solid urban fantasy, excellent lens on familial trauma, definitely Gay and not Queer fiction.
If you want similar vibes but with more overtly progressive messaging, go (re-) read the Tarot Sequence. They each have their own merits, though.
Cons: For a story that starts out critical of institutional violence, it becomes weirdly pro-cop.
It’s a little hard to tell if this is overtly pro-police messaging though, or if it’s intended to be a little more ironic and nuanced. If we’re supposed to take things like the mom saying “everyone is so mean to police” at face value, or if the author is setting something up here for the cop character to learn something in future books.
The story does an incredible job of filtering truth through experience, building understanding of a situation from one perspective, then intermingling counter-narratives in a way that has you reassessing how you feel about all of them. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if there ends up being more depth to the “I just like good guys and heroes” love interest.
Or maybe the author just has a thing for machismo, and I’m reading too much into it.
All in all, very solid urban fantasy, excellent lens on familial trauma, definitely Gay and not Queer fiction.
If you want similar vibes but with more overtly progressive messaging, go (re-) read the Tarot Sequence. They each have their own merits, though.
2.00/5.00
White Trash Warlock reads like a self-insert "fantasy" story that someone would imagine to help them feel the things they need to feel. Mired with tropes, wish fulfillment plotlines, basic worldbuilding, bland characters and worst of all, a terrible love triangle, this book is just flawed. I hate to be so down about an indie book but could not justify giving this book any higher.
To the author's credit, the story tries really hard to be fantasy, and mostly succeeds. The plot is theoretically well developed with interesting twists at the end that didn't see coming. But everything else fails to land. Most importantly, the character work is very poor. Adam feels very much like a self-insert character with no flaws. Vic is a blank but handsome paper that you fill in whatever you like. Bobby is the only character who has an arc in this book. He is the only character who actually makes decisions and changes at the end. But his POV are boring and depressing.
The thing about urban fantasy is that you can still do a lot of worldbuilding that is interesting. This book is not. I DNF this series.
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes