Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

16 reviews

gogglor's review against another edition

adventurous informative 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

5.0

As soon as I saw the summary was “Fantasy heist set in Black Washington DC in the 1920’s” I think my library card caught fire with how quickly I checked it out. So glad the book itself turned out to be just as engaging and rich as the summary promised. 10/10, already planning to read it again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Police brutality, Slavery, Racism, and Grief

mal_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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

3.25

The book had some interesting ideas and fun characters, yet I couldn’t fully engage with it due to pacing issues. While the writing was engaging at times, the story often dragged. 

Nonetheless, I felt immersed in the setting. I also liked reading about the side characters’ abilities and the deals they made with the spirits. I’d like to see a movie adaptation of this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Gun violence, Slavery, and Violence

Colorism is mentioned; this goes hand in hand with classism among African-Americans.

lottiegasp's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

4.5

This is an exciting and well-written novel set in 1920s Washington DC. It has spirits making mischievous deals with humans, a heist to save the wave of lower class Black folks who have suddenly gone missing and a fun, romantic storyline. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Classism

Minor: Slavery

While it deals with serious issues of racism and colorism, I found that it did so in a cathartic rather than heavy or upsetting way

lizzie24601's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

So so so so so so good!! A great cast of characters and a thrilling adventure. And as someone from DC, loved exploring a 1920s version of the city.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Classism, and Police brutality

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Trafficking, Ableism, Police brutality, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Confinement, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia

alisylvi's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Classism, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Bullying, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol

saricostanzo's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, Confinement, Classism, Trafficking, and Violence

mandkips's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Abandonment and Gun violence

Minor: Violence and Homophobia

regans's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality and Racism