Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

23 reviews

stachmou's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, and Abandonment

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense 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

This has been the best thriller I have read all year. There is something about a black horror novel, that is strangely right up my alley. I enjoyed every bit of this ride. The author is able to worked the realness of racism and the fear that brings in and of itself with the magical realism that is going on in the woods. I am going to be on the hunt to read more thrillers like this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit

tfortilney's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Racism, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Racial slurs and Rape

earl_grey_without_lemon's review

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

3.75

I pretty much read this book in one sitting! It hooks you quickly, and I love the trope of searching for loved ones in thriller/horror. Full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes trying to figure out who took Caroline. I also loved the relationship between Liz and her mother, and the complicated ways that race and class and the way they are both publicly perceived impacted their relationship as mother and daughter (disclaimer that I am not Black, and therefore will miss many of the nuances in this relationship, and with Liz’s relationships with every other character in the book). The POV chapters of all of the girls who had gone missing previously were gripping, and I really liked that they gave life to each of the girls through the brief snapshots we see of them. The prose is easy to read and not overly flowery but effective. Pacing is excellent throughout the book, although I think I would have preferred a more drawn out resolution, and it does feel a little like some of the larger themes (especially regarding the history of the town and the man and his shadow) are not explored as fully throughout the book as they could have been. Overall, a really interesting and good read that had me at the edge of my toes (literally got off work and then read for three and a half hours). Erin E. Adams has crafted a compelling story that weaves horror, history, and social commentary that I would highly recommend and left me for sure interested in reading further works by her!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Ableism and Racial slurs

carolynkwolff's review

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence

storyofmaryam's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

After reading the author's not it was really seeing how the life of the author heavily inspired the setting of the story. i learned a lot about Appalachian history from the story and a reminder of how class and race are used by wealthy elites to maintain control. The main theme was the struggles, tension and violence that manifest from white working class communities against black families how structures of oppression stoke and encourage it. I'm not too keen on thrillers so I would say the third act wasn't as satisfying but overall an informative read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Rape, Kidnapping, and Murder

sargasso_c's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

This book is a marvel and should be taught in literature classes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Vomit, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

tey_lynn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

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

3.5

Liz experiences a racial awakening after becoming the prime suspect in her biracial goddaughter’s disappearance. Her search to clear her name compels her to solve the overlooked ritualistic killings of other Black girls. Slow start and pitiful main character but creative plot reveal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism

Minor: Racial slurs and Sexual assault

laguerrelewis's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

Jackal was a powerful read, offering both an engaging thriller tale and a rumination on Black womanhood in predominantly white spaces. Adams’ writing is dripping in atmosphere, and Liz is a protagonist I cared for immensely. The mystery elements were surprising and kept me on my toes until its very satisfying conclusion, and the tension really builds in a way that keeps pages turning while still allowing for reflection and rumination. A perfect read for a chilly Halloween!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Vomit