Reviews

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

litteraire's review against another edition

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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

3.25

angeladarley's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

molly_vi0let's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? No

5.0

jessehersh's review against another edition

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4.0

SO GOOD but incredibly intense. Something I sometimes loved and sometimes got tired of was horrifying, graphic, events being described in beautiful metaphoric detail. The contrast between the subject and the language was perfect in some areas but in others the narrative would have benefited (in my opinion) from a mix of styles.

spacehooves's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

fatinallen's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

mmarlborough's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

3.5

This is a complex and harrowing book about survival and police brutality against BIPOC women. I’m so glad I read this one and have a lot of complicated feelings about it. 

Kiara is struggling to make ends meet. Her parents are gone and her brother Marcus is too focused on his rap dreams to help make ends meet. When Kiara is forced to take in a young boy whose Mom has abandoned him, she does what she has to do to keep them all afloat. She enters the world of prostitution and quickly becomes involved with a ring of police officers. Things escalate and Kiara finds herself integral to the investigation surrounding these officers. 

I liked the beginning of this book, loved the middle, but found the end rushed and diluting. Mottley wrote this when she was in high school and it became a best seller, Oprah Book Club pick, and long-listed for Booker Prize (which makes her the youngest writer ever nominated.) Her prose is poetic, dripping with beauty amongst the grime of Kiara’s life. Some members (including myself) of my Book Club felt this romanticized some of the violence/sexual assault but we all felt that Mottley is a skilled writer to watch. I can’t wait to read what she writes next. Do not skip the author’s note at the end!!!!!!!

✨Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assault, Police Brutality, Trafficking, Adult/Minor Relationship, Child Death, Suicide Attempt, Abandonment, Child Abuse, Drug Use, Addiction, Self Harm, Racism


checkplease's review against another edition

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4.0

3.75 Stars

There’s so much to admire here, for a debut novelist of any age but especially one who started writing her first book as an adolescent. Mottley has the potential to grow into being one of the great novelists of her generation.

The story is raw, but the protagonist Kiara so lived-in. The writing doesn’t flinch away from what she endures but also packages it in a way that’s digestible, making its consumption an act of compassion. The story brings you in touch with how the struggle to survive without adult support can shift into prostitution and exploitation, and how quickly one can normalize their circumstances regardless of how awful they may be. I liked the relationship with Trevor, the young neighbor who Kiara is also trying to care for after his mother leaves. I enjoyed their final moments together. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel this character was a device to grease the wheels of empathy; like Mottley felt the reader would judge Ki for her choices unless she was trying to keep someone else afloat in addition to her.

That and some pacing issues at points (some sections moving too slowly, others too hastily) kept me from fully loving the book. But there were some stunning passages that had me rereading sentences just to appreciate the small insights beautifully represented. Can’t wait to see where Mottley goes next.

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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? No

4.5

What a great writer! The book is sad and at times hopeless but at the same time I kept reading which is a testament to the author's talent.
I'm looking forward to the author's next novel whenever she chooses to write and publish one

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isabelmorbi's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5