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alybark's review against another edition
2.75
It started off great and with an interesting premise, but I wanted to quit about 3/5 of the way. The writing is repetitive and preachy. No one is reading this and changing their mind about homophobia or racism, so the morals of the story don’t need to be explained every chapter. It was also kind of cringey and cheesy at times. If the book had been shorter or had a less predictable villain/ending, I might give it a better rating, but it could have been condensed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Deadnaming
v171's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
A riveting, heart wrenching story of vengeance, justice, INjustice, and redemption. This book was everything I was hoping for and more. I am generally very critical of the 'bury your gays' trope, but I absolutely don't think this book falls into that category. Rather than using queer people as a device that pushes the story forward, the queer experience is central to the plot and is handled with both realism and graceful compassion. In addition, this book explored themes of racism, classism, corruption, and police brutality. Each of these were explored fully and expertly. In addition to the flawless structure of the book, the emotions this book put me through.... white hot rage, grief, compassion, love... the author was fantastic at eliciting these feelings from cover to cover. If you like books, read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Outing, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Abandonment and Excrement
yasmineyacut's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
”Tears for who they were and what they all had lost. Each drop felt like it was slicing his face open like a razorblade.”
Wow, when I tell you S.A. Cosby can tell a STORY. I didn’t know what I was missing in a book until I read this! This was the action packed mystery and character driven revenge thriller that I needed. With his phenomenal writing, he brings you right into the scene, fully invested in their lives. You can feel the grief and regret for these fathers right off the pages. I can’t even tell you how connected I felt with these characters. Buddy Lee and Ike. These bad @ss mother f*ckers (excuse my language but you’ve got to read this for yourself to understand the high) weren’t messing around and they saw it to the end — a journey you’re taken on. Seeing their relationship grow too? Into a brotherhood. They taught each other so much.
I took away so many lines from this book. So well written and absorbing. The development and personal growth within these characters! The meaning behind this book, the personal message, the sensitive topics, the depth. I felt it. Felt it so much for these fathers and their sons. I was a crying, emotional mess at the end.
…Little bit 🥺
This story confronts homophobia, racism, prejudice, sexism, violence - and has redemption and love.
“It’s easier to keep your head in the sand than it is to try and see things from somebody else’s point of view. There’s a reason why they say ignorance is bliss.”
“Time makes loyalty thin. People shed it like snakeskin.”
“Folks like to talk about revenge like it’s a righteous thing but it’s just hate in a nicer suit.”
Wow, when I tell you S.A. Cosby can tell a STORY. I didn’t know what I was missing in a book until I read this! This was the action packed mystery and character driven revenge thriller that I needed. With his phenomenal writing, he brings you right into the scene, fully invested in their lives. You can feel the grief and regret for these fathers right off the pages. I can’t even tell you how connected I felt with these characters. Buddy Lee and Ike. These bad @ss mother f*ckers (excuse my language but you’ve got to read this for yourself to understand the high) weren’t messing around and they saw it to the end — a journey you’re taken on. Seeing their relationship grow too? Into a brotherhood. They taught each other so much.
I took away so many lines from this book. So well written and absorbing. The development and personal growth within these characters! The meaning behind this book, the personal message, the sensitive topics, the depth. I felt it. Felt it so much for these fathers and their sons. I was a crying, emotional mess at the end.
…Little bit 🥺
This story confronts homophobia, racism, prejudice, sexism, violence - and has redemption and love.
“It’s easier to keep your head in the sand than it is to try and see things from somebody else’s point of view. There’s a reason why they say ignorance is bliss.”
“Time makes loyalty thin. People shed it like snakeskin.”
“Folks like to talk about revenge like it’s a righteous thing but it’s just hate in a nicer suit.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Homophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexism and Addiction
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