Reviews tagging 'Violence'

My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby

19 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

rei_reads'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

Moderate: Child abuse

jamie_rich's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I'm a big fan of his other books, but this was not for me. 
And I can't stand the way women are described in this one 😬🥴

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Cursing, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Alcohol, Gun violence, Murder, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death, and Police brutality

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

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

booksteader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

What a wild ride this book proved to be! I was taken completely out of my reading comfort zone and handed a crime mystery that reminds me of a Quentin Tarantino noir movie complete with barroom brawls, fast paced gory shoot-outs, gratuitous sex, intimidating gangsters, language that would make a sailor blush, and a murder mystery to give it all a purpose. And the antihero main character leaves a lot to be desired in terms of his misogyny and massive ego, but for some odd reason you still want him to win in the end. I do enjoy an unlikable protagonist. This isn't a book I'd recommend to just anyone; you have to own the right size pearls to clutch. If you're eager to read every male-gaze crime thriller trope you could possibly imagine all in one book, with the ability to set aside any hint of prudishness, give this one a try.
 🚨🚨🚨🚨Would recommend with some caveats, and only to a certain type of reader.
 Speaking of recommendations, thank to you Stephen from Fred & June's Books for introducing me to something totally new!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Racism, Child abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Car accident, Police brutality, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Blood, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death

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

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This author is clearly gifted. I’m reading this book after having read some of his more current books and so I definitely think this review ends up being bias. His newer works are even better than this book. But this book is still such a suspenseful ride. You could never figure out what’s going to happen and it’s so fun to follow along with.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Body horror, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Gun violence

romonko's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? Yes

3.0

I did enjoy this book, but I did think it was a little over-the-top with violence and deviant sex.  At the same time, I love Nathan and his backstory.  Nathan lost his parents, whom, he loved dearly, as a young man when he just came back from being released as a Marine.  The Good Old Boys in Virginia were not above hiding evidence and outright lying when it came to investigating an accident involving a mixed-race couple who were Nathan's parents.  Nathan has spent years as we'll as some years in the Marines honing his skills and bodybuilding in order to take on the cops in his home town. Since his parents death, Nathan has been working for his cousin at his funeral home.  When a middle-aged lady approaches him and asks him to find out what happened to her pastor who was found dead in his living room by what they are calling a suicide, Nathan decides to help.  He is not prepared for the cover-up and the desperate people who are trying to preserve their reputation after their dealings  with this pastor.  At much risk to himself, and with the help of his very talented friend Skunk, Nathan digs deeper into the secrets and lies, and, after much risk to himself, uncovers the incendiary secret.  This book moves along at a brisk pace, and there is lots of action, but I found I really liked Nathan, and with the way the book ended, it looks like S. A. Cosby has further plans for Nathan and Skunk. i look forward to reading more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Sexual content

There is a lot of sex and deviant sex and violence in this book, but it really doesn't detract from the tension of the book.