Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

36 reviews

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

narbine's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Excrement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Racial slurs, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent and Alcoholism

Minor: Outing, Hate crime, Infidelity, Deadnaming, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia

alylentz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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

3.0

I picked this up because of all the rave reviews recently--while this isn't the kind of thriller I really enjoy, I appreciate what this book did and I think it will be powerful for those not used to encountering these issues in a book like this. Also, keep in mind this is heavy on the graphic violence. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Blood, Homophobia, Death of parent, Racism, Child death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Violence

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This is an amazing book. Two fathers brought together by their gay sons. They disapprove of the lifestyle until they are both killed. They want to avenge their deaths and have to deal with their homophobia in their pursuit. It’s an amazing book that challenges us all. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Transphobia, Death, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Violence, and Homophobia

planreadrepeat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Violence, Cancer, Murder, Racism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, Kidnapping, and Gun violence

Moderate: Transphobia and Death of parent

Minor: Deadnaming

emmasbookishself's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

This book deserves all the stars. 

The imagery was incredible, I felt like I was right along for the ride. 

“We’re done letting them down.” 

Two vigilante fathers take matters into their own hands as the police investigation into their married sons, -Isiah and Derek- deaths has grown cold. Ike and Buddy Lee go full cowboy into this investigation all in an effort of justice for their sons. These deeply flawed characters are desperately trying to do right by their sons, even if it’s too late for them to know it. 

The initial feeling of Ike and Buddy Lee is that they don’t deserve to grieve or feel that amount of loss after the way they each treated their sons while they were alive... By the end of this book you’re grieving for the relationships that should have been had between Ike and Isiah, and Buddy Lee and Derek. You feel the loss of Buddy Lee and proud that he went for fighting for his boy and his husband. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Death of parent, Death, Racism, Grief, Addiction, and Murder

soobooksalot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"We're done letting them down."
 Razorblade Tears, as suggested by the title, is a story of contrasts. Harsh realities on every page.
 I knew early on this would be a five-star read for me.
 Ike and Buddy Lee have no reason to travel in the same circles, other than for their sons. Isiah and Derek - a biracial and happily married gay couple, fathers to a young daughter - were both murdered in cold blood for reasons unknown. 
 Their fathers spent time on the inside and aren't taking kindly to the world without their boys, despite their complicated relationships and lack of acceptance. 
 Buddy Lee and Ike are going to do what the police haven't, and find out who is responsible for their deaths. 
 Family isn't always blood related.
 Razorblade Tears is all at once beautiful and heartbreaking; violent and touching.
 The entire book is strengths - the pacing and plot, compelling and flawed characters, twists, and some absolutely amazing prose. 
 "Southern noir" author S.A. Cosby has an instant fan in me.
 Recommended, so many times over!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Alcohol, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

ldruckreier's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Mass/school shootings, Outing, Murder, Racism, Transphobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Tough read but captivating

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

There is so much for me to say. What an original work of art this book is. I was immediately intrigued by the premise and was excited at the prospect of reading main characters who in any other story would more than likely be characterized as villains. 

It was complicated for me at times, reading about how much hate these fathers held for their sons' queerness. Complicated and painful to watch them grieve and reflect on the ways that they failed. It was also rewarding to read as the two fathers learned to accept what they didn't understand and also accept each other. I think the way that the learning came about seemed realistic to me, and of course they weren't perfect at any point throughout the whole book, but I don't think that was the goal. The characters are morally grey, and everyone is going to have a different stance on them, but I thought that they were interesting and often painful to read. This book took me longer than most books do, I feel, in part because of the brutality within the pages. This book is SO violent, y'all. I knew that it would be going in - after all, it is a story about revenge, but that didn't stop me from having to put it down and take care of myself once in awhile. I recommend that if you decide to pick this up, that you do the same! 

BTW I found it so validating that I was picturing Buddy Lee as Sam Elliot and he is described as a Sam Elliot type more than once in the book!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, Medical content, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Kidnapping, and Car accident

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Police brutality

alistinexo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

 This book was a rough one, and i don't mean it was rough to read, i mean what happens throughout the book is rough. so glad i read it though.

i cried like a baby at the end when buddy lee died and ike was talking to him and the boys at the cemetery.

  this one really gets you thinking about how important it is to love your kids (or anyone) no matter what because they could be gone tomorrow and they need that love while theyre ALIVE, not when theyre 6 feet under. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Racism, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Car accident, Hate crime, and Kidnapping