Reviews with content warning for Racism - Those Across the River

Overall, I thought this was good book with good enough writing and an interesting premise/plot.

However, it takes place in the 30s, and the characters certainly speak like it — and by that I mean, they’re racist. Even if that character is not, like, extremely racist, they use the n-word, and there’s at least one anti-Semitic comment as well. These parts were hard to read and, to me, often felt unnecessary even it was “true” to the historic time period. I wanted to mention if that’s just not something you want to be reading.

There’s also a racist trope presumably unintentionally used—

of a black man preying on/raping a white women—read more about the history of this of you don’t understand this has a racist stereotype/trope

as well as a few other uncomfortable depictions and passages.

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castamere's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

3.0

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aristocraticraven's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

Though Buehlman’s writing is quite lush and beautiful, and I understand that this book is set in the 1930s, I felt that his use of racial slurs was excessive and seemingly took advantage of the setting to use those slurs as often as possible. I was also very disappointed in the reveal of the main villain. As if the use of slurs throughout the book wasn’t bad enough. I had hoped for some redemption, and maybe that’s what Buehlman was going for with what happens to the protagonist, but I don’t think it was well-executed nor does it make up for the blatant racism throughout the book.

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witheringghoul's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.75

I really wanted to like this book but to be honest it gave the wrong predator vibes, if you know what I mean. It’s just not for me and I also hate it so there’s that.

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pumpkin_fiend's review against another edition

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2.0

**Since it doesn’t seem to be clearly indicated anywhere: This is a historical novel set in 1930s Georgia. There is frequent use of racial slurs and depictions/references to lynching and slavery.

This is a creeping, atmospheric story that blends Southern gothic and folk horror. Sadly, despite such a strong start, the rest of the novel loses steam and doesn’t live up to its promise. Buehlman is clearly a talented writer and his background in poetry shines through, but at times it felt overwritten and like he was just flexing his ability to write in a rural Southern dialect. This might not bother someone looking for an immersive and meandering slow-burn, but I never really cared for most of the characters and I can’t help but feel that this could have been a hundred pages shorter. This is one of those books that has several endings: Right when it feels like it should end it goes on. And on. And on.

The way that the black characters were written, even considering the historical context of Frank’s POV, was carelessly stereotypical with no real nuance.

When Frank was taken and we find out that Hector has raped Eudora and claimed her as his property, I thought really? this is what we’re doing? I thought maybe he was going for some kind of commentary on cycles of violence but Hector and his pack were so brief and secondary that this whole storyline felt gratuitous and half-baked if not outright racist. The Birth of a Nation is white supremacist propaganda, not a blueprint.

I wish half the time he spends on the forgettable and interchangeable villagers was instead used to flesh out most of the major plot points and "antagonists". (Seriously, even during major scenes in the final half I had to pause and remember who any of these people were.)

As for Eudora, she read like your typical Hot Gorgeous Wife Who Is Also Stubborn And Really Smart But In A Sexy Non-Threatening Way. She lacked the depth or complexity that would make her relationship to Frank remotely compelling, which seems important when your novel’s emotional poignancy rests almost entirely on its shoulders.

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