Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

26 reviews

abrostek's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Animal death, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

Minor: Death of parent

traa's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Vomit, Rape, and Eating disorder

Minor: Slavery and Cannibalism

mfrisk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It touches on the history of the area, has a good build up of thriller elements, and a lot of social commentary around race and class. Where it gets a bit confusing is the more supernatural/horror elements that while interesting I’m not sure are weaved into the story enough early on for them to feel fully realized. That being said I really look forward to reading more from this author given that this was a debut. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Grief, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

daffodilcherry's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

A gripping thriller with a supernatural twist. I love the narrative arc of a person returning to their home town and in the process tackling the demons from their past. I liked the poignant way Adams wove in the town's real history and racist past into the narrative of this book. I found there were some loose ends, but I overall really enjoyed the mystery. 

Wheelhouse items: woman returning to her home town, murder mystery, kidnapping history, serial killers, supernatural aspects, wider conspiracy, black main character.

Favourite quotes: "If there's one thing fear can do, it's make a beast out of a shadow. It turns us all into monsters. The enemy of the shadow isn't light. It's sight."
"When your name is in other people's mouths, they twist it up. They make you into something you are not. When people take you outside yourself, that is when trouble comes."

"I became the perfect vessel for a monster. I'm Black, but not like those Black people. I'm a woman, but not like other women. I've fractured myself as goodness demanded of me."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, and Violence

keenanmaree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Kidnapping, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

boba_n_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This unique book takes elements of mystery and thriller and merges them with some science fiction. I enjoyed all the twists and turns throughout the search for Caroline and how Liz uncovers the past to help unravel the future. The shadow element is intriguing, and I wish it had been fleshed (lol) out more. 

Though the book had its slow moments, I really enjoyed the story and appreciated the deeper meaning and commentary about the advancement of the Black community and the suppression of Black stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Blood, Kidnapping, Racism, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Animal death, Death of parent, Child death, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

maddiearthur's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• 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: Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Death, Murder, and Hate crime

Moderate: Fatphobia

edgaranjapoe's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Child death, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Torture, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Cursing, Murder, Bullying, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Excrement, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Confinement, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Hate crime, and Sexual assault

bambooboy's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Alcoholism, Child death, Classism, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia, Stalking, and Vomit

odylics's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

If you have ever heard "if you see something in the woods, no you didn't" or "if something calls your name, ignore it" OR if you like spooky books, Appalachian myths, murder mysteries, and honest looks at race and class... This book is for you. I have never read a book quite like this or fell for a protagonist quite like Liz. 

Please be sure to check the TWs. This book was uncomfortable and sad and scary, but necessary for the horror/thriller space. It centers around Johnstown, PA and the long reach of the Johnstown Flood, which I had never heard of before despite it resulting in the deaths of 2,208 people, with much of the blame placed at the feet of Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and and Andrew Mellon. The flood left physical lines of separation between classes and races in Johnstown, all connected by the woods and the disappearance of the many young Black girls at the heart of this story.

5/5 stars!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Medical content, Murder, Animal death, Child death, Hate crime, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gore, and Racism