Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

6 reviews

panickat123's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This plot twist was so good 😱 I’m honestly probably just slow and didn’t see it coming which Happens a lot with thriller/mysteries but damn this book got me. Loved it. Also on audio, it has all the bg noises like doorbells, phone chimes, knocks, all incorporated into it and that was new for an audiobook and it really brings you into the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Child death, Grief, Classism, Murder, and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Abortion, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Suicide, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Blood

jaz_gets_literary's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Please go over the trigger warnings before starting this book as it may be triggering to some. 

I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had the who done it figured out and I was shocked when it was actually revealed. I did figure out a few things along the way but the actual person had me like 😳 lots of important talking points in this book. Police brutality, racism, classism, and more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Abortion, Murder, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Grief

Minor: Suicide, Chronic illness, and Racial slurs

jillkaarlela's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas meets “Ace of Spades” by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé! I loved this murder mystery, because not only was the mystery really complex, unexpected and nuanced, but the overarching themes of systemic racism opinions towards the police were really well explored. I thought it was a really interesting and smart choice to have this in a dual POV with the friend of the main girl who died as well as a rich white girl who seems to be a “villain” at the beginning, and doesn’t understand how racist and privileged she is. It provided and interest contrast, as we get to see Tinsley’s character growth as she is doing the work and research needed to better herself (although we do hate her quite a lot at times). I also liked the talk about the relationship with the police, especially since the main character (Duchess’s) black father is also a police officer. This is a story full of secrets, lies, deception, twists and turns, important political issues, and tons of nuance. 

Another fun fact about the author, Jumata Emill is that he used to be a crime reporter! I think this really helped his story, and made him able to write such a great mystery.  

Age rating: 14+ (language)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide

clare072's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Murder, and Pedophilia

Minor: Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Abortion, Rape, and Vomit

psistillreadyou's review

challenging dark medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Drug use, Cancer, Suicide, Rape, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

reading_under_covers's review against another edition

4.0

Another fantastic debut!

This one is rooted in trauma and racism, and very much written towards a YA audience.

While I loved some of the characters (DUCHESS!!), I wasn’t the biggest fan of the tragedy in this book being used as a way for the white main character to have a redemption arc - felt a bit weird in the overall context of the novel. 

I’m looking forward to seeing what else this author cooks up!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Abortion, and Suicide