Reviews tagging 'Death'

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

191 reviews

markedwithanm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Racial slurs, Death, Murder, Torture, and Racism

fromthefoxhole's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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

4.0

Maryse is a young black woman based in Macon, GA in 1922. Here, she has carved a path alongside fellow fighters in a somewhat underground war. As it turns out, some KKK members are less human than others, and she means to put an end to their reign of terror however possible. 

The announcement of a reprise screening of Birth of a Nation happens to coincide with even stranger events than usual - events that force Maryse to confront her past, the past of her ancestors, and to make choices she never expected. 

I really enjoyed this book, despite going in nearly blind on the plot. For its length, Ring Shout manages to pack quite the punch, with sprawling descriptions and a quick pace. I don't think there was ever a point where I felt confident in where the plot was headed, or the choices Maryse was going to make; rather, I was simply along for the ride and hoping that it wouldn't end with everything going up in smoke. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and Racism

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

sarahbiegelsen's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Hate crime, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent

heather_harrison's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

This is my second attempt at tackling Ring Shout, and for such a compact novella it really does pack a punch. 

The story and world-building is dense and heavy. 
The language and use of the "Gullah woman" was a bit disorientating. The audiobook version helped a bit with that. 

The Lovecraftian KKK monsters were creepy and unsettling, more like a dark and twisted epic fantasy.
Violent and action packed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Murder, Gore, Violence, Slavery, Cursing, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death

platypus1's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Horror scary dystopian 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Cannibalism, Classism, Confinement, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Rape

angievansprang's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

This was an incredibly imaginative story that weaves in elements of both fantasy and horror to create a poignant social commentary on racism & the root of hatred. A very creative, fast-paced thriller and I would definitely recommend! This was my first read of the social horror subgenre and I will definitely be picking up more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Gore

Moderate: Blood, Death, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Slavery, and Racial slurs

raptorq's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Body horror, Gore, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Grief, Blood, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Kidnapping

Minor: Animal death and War

doomluz's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

This was amazing and creepy!

I love the ending implying HP Lovecraft is tool of the Ku Kluxes. I hope the author writes a sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Racial slurs, Racism, and Gore

Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

morgangd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

~Who says all the fantasies with sword-wielding heroes and heroines have to be in Middle Earth, Westeros, or even our dreams of Africa past—“copper sun or scarlet sea?”~

Magical fantasy with cursed swords and monsters but the fantasy land is Macon, Georgia, and the monsters are hate-filled racists who need to be slaughtered.

Loses a few points as the conclusion gets schmaltzy but otherwise outstanding. Clark does great work again and I need the film of this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Torture, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Colonisation, Antisemitism, Genocide, Slavery, Police brutality, and Racial slurs

ruthiedr89's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad 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

Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Animal death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Cursing