Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

122 reviews

siobhanward's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.5

This was a challenging read, but good nonetheless. The narrative was good and Kiara was a great character. It can be hard to read a character as complex as Kiara, but she was so well-written and felt so human. I did struggle with how much was going on in the book, however. So much going around Kiara that was either left unresolved or barely addressed at all made a lot of the book feel like it was wasted. I understand why Mottley ended the book the way she did, but it felt like so much happened in the book that was never mentioned again. I really wish I'd liked this book a bit more because it had a strong premise, but I struggled at points where it felt like Mottley lost her direction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Death of parent

libellumartinae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I don't know how to feel this book. I didn't expect an easy read when I first started it but I certainly didn't expect either what it came with. The story is so scarily terrifying, especially upon discovering it's based on real facts, and I absolutely felt interesting the whole context and plot in which the author developed it, switching swiftly from a more journalistic style or a more personal one that allows to see in time everything the main character feels while also following the trail of events.

I didn't fully enjoy the writing and I thought that the ending was a mess, because although I understood how it finished at the same time I felt like it could have handled with a bit more of slowness.

It's utterly a story that will stay on my chest for days and won't leave me. It's an haunting tale that I'd encourage you to read - obviously being aware of the tws - because it certainly will help you on understanding and opening your eyes on different aspects of our rotten society.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Transphobia, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Child death, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

vif's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Child death, Violence, and Death of parent

samantha_shain's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Really moving, but difficult to read.  Incredibly sad.  Staggeringly good similes!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Stalking, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Grief

angela_king's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Police brutality, Trafficking, Death of parent, Addiction, Rape, and Racism

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Death, Self harm, Sexual violence, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

virginia_vex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Child death, and Addiction

kenzkaufman's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Sexual content, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Rape

pkc's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

It would be weird to summarise a book like this by saying whether I “enjoyed it” or not. It’s not the sort of the book where there’s much to enjoy in terms of a bleak plot and a pervading sense of hopelessness. I will say, there are snatches of poetic writing in amongst the darkness that Kiara, the protagonist is subject to. I also think Kiara is an excellently realised protagonist. Her arc is perfectly plotted and it’s easy to follow her story and invest in her life. 

I will say though, if you’re looking for a neat and traditionally happy resolution, this book won’t do it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Medical content, Bullying, Suicide, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Rape, Addiction, Drug use, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

annamgoodman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Cancer, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Cursing, Blood, and Self harm