Reviews tagging 'Rape'

My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby

15 reviews

queergoth_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

This took me a lot longer to get into than Cosby's other books. The writing was a bit weaker in the beginning, like he was finding his voice, which I think is to be expected with the first full length novel. But it kicked off about half way through and I was completely hooked and it definitely delivered what the rest of his books deliver. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Medical content, Child abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Animal death

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad 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

5.0

SA Cosby is such a good writer that I hope he keeps writing books for many, many years. I’m not phrasing this well because I don’t want to sound histrionic but damn, he is *so* good. Everything of his that I’ve read has knocked the breath out of me. This book is no different. 

When I read one of Cosby’s books, I think about it for weeks afterward. The main characters, even some of the dirty ones, are sympathetic and wind up in some really awful sh1t while the villains are despicably vile. The plots are compelling page-turners - I read this all in one go. I’m sitting here trying to write this, feeling gobsmacked by the wild trip Cosby took me on. It’s impossible for me to describe how magnificent his writing is. 

I have no idea how Cosby comes up with his complex plots, his mix of struggling good guys and evil bad guys. How many synonyms for compelling are there? He writes with a depth of emotion; it’s clear he really loves his characters. 

As someone with a phobia of religion, I hesitated to read this. I needn’t have worried. Cosby shows how seemingly altruistic people manipulate religion and its adherents to get what they want. There are a handful of devout believers here but the rest are either pretending and / or milking it for all they can get. 

I can’t wait for Cosby’s next book. He is beyond talented. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Police brutality, Racism, Cursing, Murder, Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Violence, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Blood, and Car accident

graysonbax's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Check the mf trigger warnings 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Infidelity, Gun violence, Blood, Bullying, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Racism, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Death

ameyer20's review against another edition

dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gun violence

Minor: Rape

josie2k's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Hate crime

emziesreads's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

3.5

Nobody does Southern noir like Cosby. Master at using the crime novel to interrogate race in rural South.

There's some objectification of women in this book which while suiting the MC did bother me at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Suicide, Death, Hate crime, Murder, and Rape

d34dly_d34dly's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Blood

horizonous's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

1.0

Without all of the unnecessary sexual content, male gaze and sexualisation of every woman this could have worked just fine as an action-packed novella.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Sexism, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide, War, Bullying, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Rape, Car accident, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Domestic abuse

the_boozy_baking_bibliophile's review against another edition

5.0

Bought this yesterday after my friend Magen over at bonechillingbooks told me it was incredible. And she was not wrong. I read this in one sitting, on a Sunday night and it saved me from all the Sunday Scaries. Don’t get me wrong - there is a shit ton of murder and violence and things that make you rethink your path in life in this book, but never once did I contemplate putting it down. 

Cosby is a master of the art of writing complicated, flawed characters that still have you rooting for them as they’re breaking someone else’s jaw. If you like gritty crime novels that are full of despicable characters and people who will do whatever it takes to rid the world of that evil - even if it means walking a fine line between vengeance and justice - this is a must read. 

And it was his first novel. So far, they’re all fucking glorious. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Police brutality, Murder, and Violence

ripxw's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Pedophilia, Murder, and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Death of parent