Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

17 reviews

courtnoodles's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Blood, Death, Gore, Torture, Body horror, Alcohol, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, and Racism

Minor: Sexual content

starrysteph's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

This was an exhilarating read. Intense stakes, a sharp written voice, and excellent pacing that goes from lingering moments of deep characterization to heart-pounding action scenes. I was shocked and horrified and triumphant. 

This is a story about inescapable poverty & racism. It's a story about family - about generational violence and struggling with identity and our MC's deep desire to be a good father. At its core, it's a story about one man yearning for freedom. Throw in a heist (where things rapidly funnel out of control) and a lot of action-packed getaway drives, and you've got me hooked.

We follow Beauregard ("Bug") as he attempts to create an honest life for himself and his family, leaving his exploits as a getaway driver in the past. But a lot of things go wrong all at once, and Bug is tempted by an old acquaintance to lean back into the Life he so desperately wanted to bury for one final heist. (Though is it ever one final heist?)
 
Bug is a deeply compelling protagonist - he makes some pretty nasty choices, but you still find yourself rooting for him. That's not easy to pull off.

The prose is overall strong, but at moments Cosby leans into the similes so much that it got a little distracting. There's also a lot of detailed car talk, but even as a reader with 0 expertise in this area I felt like I was able to follow along (it just took a little extra effort at times, and led to some descriptions that felt quite dry). 

It's a gritty read with a lot of depth. It's intense. It's violent. It's heavy on the heart. But in my opinion? It's worth it.

CW: murder, violence, gore, body horror, gun violence, drug use, racial slurs, torture, fatphobia, cancer, sexual content, car accident, animal death, fire, vomit

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Fatphobia, Excrement, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Drug abuse, Murder, and Sexual content

cleches's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-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: Drug use, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual content

sadieh's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Gun violence, Racism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Medical content, and Cursing

Minor: Grief and Sexual content

rliedtke's review against another edition

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

4.25

If I liked crime novels I think this would easily be a 5 star read, I just think it’s not my genre. That being said I still enjoyed it and think overall it’s an excellent book. I loved the writing and the family issues going on along with everything. I listened with the audiobook for a lot of it (I’m weird and go back and forth) and I think it’s a great audiobook as well! 

If you like crime/heist stuff I strongly recommend!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Racial slurs, and Violence

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Torture

mysterymom40's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

Moderate: Dementia, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture

horizonous's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• 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

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Vomit