Reviews tagging 'Death'

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

44 reviews

perpetualpages's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

CWs: death; blood; references to terminal illness, massacre, and mass murder; brief reference to suicide ideation; internalized homophobia; antisemitism and antisimetic slurs; non-graphic references to past sexual abuse; fire-related trauma and drowning; and violence. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Blood, and Antisemitism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Murder

alwaysshure's review

dark mysterious sad tense

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Antisemitism

Moderate: Death and Rape

melaniereadsbooks's review

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for an arc of this book.

When Alter's roommate ends up dead during the World's Fair in 1893 Chicago, Alter knows that it wasn't the accident the police are claiming it was. A string of deaths and disappearances of young Jewish boys are cropping up over the city. To make matters worse, ever since his friend's death, Alter has been experiencing hallucinations and black outs that leave all-too-real marks on his body. He is determined to find out what really happened and put his friend's spirit to rest.

Wow, this book was mysterious and tense throughout! It took me a little ways to get into it, but once I did I was completely addicted! Alter is such a sympathetic character and I loved following his point of view as he discovered what was really going on in the City. I also....I am in love with Frankie. I'm sorry, but he is perfect. He is like.... a slightly-less-traumatized Kaz Brekker but also gay. Yup. I'm in love.

The prose in this book was beautiful and I truly loved it!

Pub Date: Oct 5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Genocide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

kayladaila's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.5

I received an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The City Beautiful is a Jewish, gay, YA horror mystery set around the Chicago World’s Fair. It was a bit of a slow novel at the beginning, but did eventually pick up speed. All of the characters were well developed and came from different but historically accurate perspectives. I’m personally not a fan of horror, so parts of this were a bit much for me, but that doesn’t make it any less of a great read. The Jewish representation was phenomenal and I hope it comes across well to nonJewish readers. My favorite thing about this book is that it was able to be a gay historical romance with absolutely no homophobia. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Rape

Minor: Physical abuse