Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

61 reviews

surlamer7803's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Really well written and very well researched book that I found to be unexpectedly informative and educational but done so in a way that was enhancing to the story and overall entangling. Loved the theme and thrills of this book - done very differently to others of the genre which was very refreshing. Very much enjoyed the climactic and satisfying conclusion as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

Minor: Slavery

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

3.75

Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5

On the surface, When No One Is Watching is thriller novel, but when you start to dig into the material, you find that the author weaves the important subjects of racism and gentrification into the suspense.

Sydney has lived in Brooklyn all her life, but the neighborhood she knows and loves is transforming before her eyes as more and more white people are moving into homes that have been owned by Black families for years. One of those people is Theo, who moved into one of the homes with his long-term girlfriend with the intent of flipping the house and reselling it. In order to keep the history of the neighborhood at the forefront, Sydney decides to create her own historical tour and asks Theo to help her dig into the rich past of the area. But the further they look, the more suspicious behaviors and conspiracies they uncover, and the pair becomes unsure of who they can trust.

This novel is definitely a slow burn. There is a lot of build-up before the tension comes to a head at the very end. Throughout the story, you're unsure of who you can trust--including both our main narrators, Sydney and Theo. I think the themes could've been more poignant and the ending could've been more realistic than leaning into science-fiction. 

When No One Is Watching brings the vital issues of racism, injustice, and gentrification to the forefront of its story. These subjects were what brought the most chilling themes to me, and if you're wanting to learn more about them through a thrilling ride, I'd definitely recommend this novel to you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery

maryjames'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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Slavery, and Kidnapping

kylieqrada's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Truth really is stranger than fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery

shaun_dh's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

spicycronereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The first half is very interesting but it did not read like a thriller until the second half. Seeds of mystery are planted along the way that keep your interest. And the history is fascinating.

The thriller aspects really picked up and all the pieces started coming together in the second half in a way that really paid off. And there are a few jaw dropping moments! 

The dynamic between Sydney and Theo really works. They have fun banter and he seems like he is genuinely interested is learning to do better. There is one spicy scene but otherwise the focus is really on the events in the neighborhood. 1/2 🌶️

The audio book performances are great. 

Overall I found it engaging! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / .5 🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Slavery

Gentrification

lampbee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Really well done thriller, no overly unreal aspects so it’s really easy to stay hooked. The twists are semi predictable but that doesn’t cheapen the read , it’s still very entertaining. Reading it as a white person might make you question just how realistic some of the depictions are but just lean into it, she’s right. The two leads Sydney and Theo are a good pair but for a lot of the book I found Theo very unlikeable , though as it continued I feel that that was intentional. A lot of the situations of conflict within the book make your stomach turn with frustration and helplessness which is the whole point but get ready to be very angry at a plot point  with absolutely no recourse. The build up is fantastic, the final reveal is fantastic, the way that that is dealt with is sort of lack luster bit it’s still worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Although it’s meant to be a huge if not the biggest twist in the book

Sydneys mom being dead the whole time

is fairly obvious from the first we hear of the situation. The reveal about 75% of the way through feels a little silly because of it, like, duh… Also I felt a little annoyed at how

blatant Kim’s racism and generally evil personality was

, it felt so intense that it was no longer believable. Also the

sex scene between theo and sydney

was pretty unnecessary, is that just me ? Is anyone else getting tired of every book having a weirdly graphic scene for no real reason?

bringitona's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

callidoralblack's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Deportation

sfdogmom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Slavery, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation