You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Meh. And there should have been a TW for child abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy
2.5 and I must admit that frankly generous .5 is because I thought, "well, at least it was gay."
This is, apparently, a first novel and it shows. Honestly it reads more like a first DRAFT than anything--scenes moved so fast, there was never a grounding sense of where the characters were or how they felt outside of the narration very matter-of-factly telling us. Overall, the sheer amount of telling over showing in this was tiring. Oh, the brothers hate each other? How about making them interact for more than two minutes of CW-esque dialogue and stew in some feelings instead of telling me over and over.
I love family drama. I live for family drama. Up until maybe 200ish pages in when there is a flashback of [spoiler!] I was so fucking bored with this family drama. Again, I think this was an issue with how we are constantly being told how tense the family was instead of the story taking the time to slow down and show it.
It all felt so low stakes. I could not get attached to anyone in this novel and the climax was ultimately lacking. No atmosphere, no gripping sense of tension. No ROMANTIC tension, even. A potential love triangle between Vic-Adam-Silver almost had some merit as an interesting plot point except it too feels so bland and rote. Like the author was just checking off boxes of what to include in the story.
Perhaps this would have been better as a screenplay. Maybe the author was speed running this as an intro for the universe he was building, as this is the first in a trilogy, and the writing will be improved in the second novel, but I was not endeared enough to care to pick up the rest.
This is, apparently, a first novel and it shows. Honestly it reads more like a first DRAFT than anything--scenes moved so fast, there was never a grounding sense of where the characters were or how they felt outside of the narration very matter-of-factly telling us. Overall, the sheer amount of telling over showing in this was tiring. Oh, the brothers hate each other? How about making them interact for more than two minutes of CW-esque dialogue and stew in some feelings instead of telling me over and over.
I love family drama. I live for family drama. Up until maybe 200ish pages in when there is a flashback of [spoiler!]
Spoiler
the dad trying to drown AdamIt all felt so low stakes. I could not get attached to anyone in this novel and the climax was ultimately lacking. No atmosphere, no gripping sense of tension. No ROMANTIC tension, even. A potential love triangle between Vic-Adam-Silver almost had some merit as an interesting plot point except it too feels so bland and rote. Like the author was just checking off boxes of what to include in the story.
Perhaps this would have been better as a screenplay. Maybe the author was speed running this as an intro for the universe he was building, as this is the first in a trilogy, and the writing will be improved in the second novel, but I was not endeared enough to care to pick up the rest.
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
A Gritty, Queer Urban Fantasy That Hits Hard in All the Right Ways
White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton was such a fun and surprisingly emotional read. It balances classic fantasy elements—magic, other realms, dangerous creatures—with the grounded struggles of real life: poverty, queerness, mental health, and the complicated mess of family ties.
Adam Binder is a deeply relatable protagonist—queer, broke, and stuck navigating a fractured relationship with a family that doesn’t always believe in him… or believe him. But what really pulled me in was the way Slayton layered in generational trauma and family curses without ever losing the sense of adventure and wonder.
The worldbuilding feels lived-in and unique. It’s not some glitzy urban fantasy filled with elite magical societies or ancient bloodlines—it’s gritty, heartfelt, and rooted in places and people you don’t always see in fantasy. It still delivers on supernatural thrills, but it also gives space for queer identity and emotional healing.
Some moments could’ve gone deeper, but overall, White Trash Warlock kept me hooked. It’s the start of a series I’m definitely continuing. If you're into fantasy with a side of real-life mess and magic, this one’s worth picking up.
White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton was such a fun and surprisingly emotional read. It balances classic fantasy elements—magic, other realms, dangerous creatures—with the grounded struggles of real life: poverty, queerness, mental health, and the complicated mess of family ties.
Adam Binder is a deeply relatable protagonist—queer, broke, and stuck navigating a fractured relationship with a family that doesn’t always believe in him… or believe him. But what really pulled me in was the way Slayton layered in generational trauma and family curses without ever losing the sense of adventure and wonder.
The worldbuilding feels lived-in and unique. It’s not some glitzy urban fantasy filled with elite magical societies or ancient bloodlines—it’s gritty, heartfelt, and rooted in places and people you don’t always see in fantasy. It still delivers on supernatural thrills, but it also gives space for queer identity and emotional healing.
Some moments could’ve gone deeper, but overall, White Trash Warlock kept me hooked. It’s the start of a series I’m definitely continuing. If you're into fantasy with a side of real-life mess and magic, this one’s worth picking up.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes