Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

67 reviews

kait_'s review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Dementia, and Violence

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Racism, and Self harm

ronnieb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Trigger Warning: Rape, Child Abuse/Assault, Suicide, Death of Children/Close Family Members, Drug Abuse

This was my first Grady Hendrix novel and I really thought this was a well constructed novel. I will say it starts fast and strong but slows down a bit in the end. I will say I did grow frustrated in the middle of the novel but I think that was the point and kept you in the same headspace as the main character. Overall I do not have much to say other than this is a well put together story that is dark and gruesome but not overly grotesque or exploitative.  

I did want to touch on the portrayal of different races and genders in this novel. I have heard this criticized in some reviews and I am tempted to agree with them. The exploration of these themes felt very surface and not really nuanced in any way. As a white man I don't know if Hendrix was the right person to tackle some of these topics and as a white, man reviewer I am not trying to speak for any group I do not belong to but I can not deny these were feelings I had during the novel and took away from some of my enjoyment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

annanaim's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence

Minor: Drug use

igfromero's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

oncasette's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Drug use, and Blood

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Excrement

Minor: Animal cruelty and Vomit

lovepie1111's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gore, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Child death, Body horror, and Blood

scbarr's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I haven't read a book this quickly in a long time. Hendrix had a great pace going through the whole story and kept you wondering where the story was going. Though the trope of "bored housewife and her misadventures" has been done before, this is still a fun take.

There is an attempt at commentary on race and misogyny which scratch the surface and have strong a white-feminist on them. This was still a fun kitschy mystery to get wrapped up in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity

annir's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Self harm, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cannibalism, Medical content, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Vomit

jbabbm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Went in with high expectations and got more than I expected!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Racism and Drug use

syfylauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.5

This book is fun, for those who love a good horror movie set in the 80s and 90s. It is gory, and it there were moments when I had to take a break, but I loved this journey. At it's core, this is a story about a woman listening to her gut, being supported by her friends, and reclaiming her agency. Honorable mention to Kitty for bringing the most laughs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Dementia, Gaslighting, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Animal death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Murder, Medical trauma, and Medical content

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Pedophilia