Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Ring shout : Cantique rituel by P. Djèlí Clark

18 reviews

erebus53's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I had no idea what this book was about, except Race friction/violence, and was surprised to find that it was a supernatural fantasy/horror story set in an alternate world version of North America. In a world where Racial hatred has been fomented by the KKK (who have actual Grand Wizards) only those people with The Sight can see the true form of the monsters awakened in men filled with hate. Foul Magicks are worked and in a horrid twist of the knife a popular movie contains the Workings to bring forth all sorts of horrid beings through the Veil (by inciting people to Hate).

A group of scrappy monster-hunting girls lay traps for the awakened monsters that they call "KluKluxes" which they attempt to dispel with bombs, guns and a magical sword. Back home, people are using whatever resources they can to keep their families safe, from science, to the elders' gris-gris and ancestral rites.

The main character has dream visits with other beings who she relies on as spirit guides, and who she sees as "Aunties". It seems that her destiny is tied up, and she is called to action to stop the re-release of that popular old movie, which will allow the KKK to raise an old god. She must use her power and wisdom to defeat the manifestations of Racial Hatred.

Some parts of this story are pretty trippy, and it's got a whole monster killing Buffy vibe, but in a much less White girl context lol.

The end of the story seems to indicate that there is possibly another would-be hero out there.. and from the gist of it I could see the follow up being from the point of view of a personal journey of a White boy who needs to turn his back on the lure of bigotry.. but I really don't know how the vibe would work that way around.. could go either way if there was a sequel, but the creepy otherbeing world, and the slipping in-between, going inside flesh-trees,  and vision quest type feel, is a really cool interweaving of fantasy elements.. and there are emotionally resonant bits in the end of the story that deliver nicely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Bullying, Colonisation, Cursing, Racism, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Hate crime

Minor: Slavery

escapinginpaper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, Sexual content, Colonisation, War, Genocide, and Kidnapping

Minor: Animal death, Classism, Antisemitism, and Cursing

There is pretty graphic racial violence and a scene involving an entire family being lynched.

peachani's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Racism, and Gore

Moderate: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Death

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

bookishbutch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense 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

5.0

I would read literally anything by P. Dejli Clark. I have yet to be disappointed by any of his books. The way he shapes his characters is masterful. The plot is, as with all of his books, emotional and beautiful and smart. I'm trying not to say too much, because I don't want to spoil the book! It's a journey best taken blind, I think. (Although be very mindful of the TWs!)

Also, if you're able to, please listen to the audiobook! Channie Waites breathes life into this book brilliantly. Frankly, that's the best way to experience this novella in my humble opinion.

Come for the strong Black women kicking racist ass, stay for the beautiful writing and the huge amount of heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Grief, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Alcohol, and Medical trauma

Minor: Animal death

entityj's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery

Minor: Kidnapping, Vomit, Torture, Slavery, and Sexual content

chris_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Hate crime and Racism

Minor: Alcohol and Animal death

marthadude's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Animal death

Plenty of gore and body horror.

wrenxavier's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Alcohol, Murder, and Racial slurs

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Trafficking