Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

936 reviews

logsbooklog's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

i ended up liking this a good bit. the writing is brisk and easy to get through and the story is gripping enough to see it through to the end. it’s a solid thriller although a lot of the twists are pretty obvious even from the start.
where i think this book falters is in the first 100 pages where the story is pretty cliche. the drama is very much tea but it’s tea that we’ve seen many times before in stories like pretty little liars. while it does ultimately serve to subvert these tropes, i feel like it could have had more creative setups for the payoff to be even better. 
i also think that by the end the book starts to struggle under the weight of its premise. the message is clear and it’s powerful, but the amount of necessary suspension of disbelief becomes too high towards the end. i ended up feeling like it was a little ridiculous just how few genuine people these kids had in their life.

it felt like every single character had to be tied into the overarching mystery when the book really needed some levity of even just 1 or 2 friends or partners who were outsiders. especially chiamaka, who by the end of the book seems to have no one at all compared to devon which results in the payoff feeling kind of uneven.

overall, i think this is a good time with a strong message about race, even if it falls short in a couple areas. i’d definitely recommend it especially for people who may not mind the problems i had as much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Car accident and Suicide attempt

charlx_otte's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious 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

I wish I could give this more than 5 stars 🥲

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Drug use, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt

I have no words. I cannot believe this was a debut.

whosgina's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt

megmccreery's review

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective 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

I've truly never read anything like this before, and I was actually scared and had my jaw on the floor several times! Great social commentary with a plot that keeps you hooked. I would recommend reading the TWs since there are several social issues addressed that could be hard for some to read. Read this!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment

big_paul's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

2.75

a little half-baked but I appreciate the message

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

maiareadss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

This was traumatizing in the best way. It’s like not knowing you’re on fire until you’re literally burning🔥 Ten out of ten. It’s so well written. Black characters really deserve happy endings! My jaw is on the floor. The ending needed a bit more but…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual assault

traceyanderson's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring 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: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

mostlykenny's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? No

5.0

This was so moving. I recommend so many people to read this. It’s amazing and twisted. And tells you a lot about our systems today. Warning, check the trigger warnings before reading if you’re pretty sensitive to these kinds of topics. But I still think it should be read since the world isn’t alll good in real life. Fiction mirrors reality sometimes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

buttermellow's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Death of parent

akeeuh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault