Reviews with content warning for Violence - Blacktop Wasteland

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

91 reviews

tysbooks's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

At this point, S.A. Cosby has failed to disappoint! In this we follow our main character Bug, who is known as being one of the best getaway drivers, but unfortunately he has fallen on some hard times and is in need of money to take care of unexpected expenses. He decides to take on a job to get him and his family over this hurdle, but the job doesn't go according to plan and Bug finds himself having to protect his family, confront some enemies and face the abandonment issues from when his father left him and his mother when he was a child.

I enjoyed the thrilling aspect of this book with the edge of your seat car chases and shoot outs and all the lies and deceptions, but the book also goes deeper. We have our main character Bug, throughout the story having this internal struggle of wanting to provide for his family the right way but also feeling like he can't leave the life of crime alone. He also struggles with the reasons his father left and if he is turning out to be just like him. A majority of the characters are bad and have their own motivations for why they want to take on this job, but it does make you wonder if these characters are not one in the same. This book takes place in the south so our main character does experience racism but there is also gun violence and other graphic violence. If you don't like action packed movies this might not be the book for you, but I really enjoyed this one and once again can't wait to pick up another book by this author.

Content Warnings

jaylee_books's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

graff_fuller's review

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

This is the second book that I've read of S.A. Cosby (Razorblade Tears, though published later...was the book that brought this author into my view). I actually loved this book, better.

I love reading Thrillers...and this was outside my usual. This protagonist has done a LOT of shady sh*t, but deep down he's a man that just wants to do right for his family.

Beauregard "Bug" Montage is a hard working man that has been dealt a bad hand in life, but he doesn't make excuses. He just keeps doing his best. He also has a talent...he can build/race cars. This is both a blessing and a curse. The curse part, comes in the way of ... being "the driver" for any type of heist.

When we first meet him, he is presented with a stretch of bad luck in his business, but also his mother's being evicted from her Nursing Home...because of hidden income...which presents itself as a bill of a LOT of money...that Beauregard has to come up with...to keep his mother safe.

Then the bottom drops out. One mistake leads to another, and another, and another. Blood leaking through enemies, acquaintences, friends and even family. When will it stop?

Even his long lost/dead father is hanging around as a spector in his mind...taunting him down a specific path in life, while his wife is trying her hardest to keep her husband near...so that he can be BETTER than the representation of what fatherhood was for him...so their children will know better.

Loved this book. I look forward to reading whatever he comes up with next.

Content Warnings

d0505's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-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

Content Warnings

tlaynejones's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Content Warnings

elyssam's review

4.5

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Action-packed book about a man trying to make ends meet who can drive a getaway car like no one else and how that lifestyle can thread into several bad scenarios.

I liked the story even though I was often questioning some of the characters’ motives and their morality. The ending was more ambiguous than I would like, but I understand why. The writing was very impactful, as the word choice went a long way in creating realistic and gruesome imagery.

At first I didn’t know if I’d enjoy this book. How was I supposed to root for people committing crimes? But then I got to know Beauregard, his backstory, and why he made the choices he made. And I also got to the action of the book (which was nearly never-ending). I could not put the book down at that point. An incredible read and a great introduction for me into this genre of fiction.

Content Warnings

amandalorianxo's review

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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: Yes

Sugar.Honey.Iced.Tea! (SH!T) This vaguely reminded me of Fast & Furious except set primarily in the south and with characters that have you on the edge the entire time. Bug will have you rooting for him from start to finish. Just when you think the job he needs to get done is finished, nope. Not even close. Highly recommend this for an instant thrill.

Content Warnings