Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

11 reviews

20sidedbi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, and Torture

ceraunomancy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Homophobia and Blood

cryptidstar's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

I have mixed feelings about this. I picked it up mainly because I liked the title and it had gay rep. The plot was entertaining, but I honestly hated most of the characters, especially the 2 main ones Adam & Bobby. Also was not expecting the weirdly pro cop agenda. All cops are bastards, even the bisexual latino ones. I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the series simply because I don’t care what happens to the characters.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this! I chose it based on the title, which got a laugh from me. But what I found was surprisingly excellent. 

Adam was born in a trailer and being gay in OK was rough on him, but then add in that he is descended from witches and has a touch of magic unlike theirs. He has a rocky relationship with his family, both due to his sexual orientation and his magical one, who had him committed in high school. 

This book focuses on Adam's relationships, his romantic ones, his familial ones, and his magical one. This is a story of a traumatized youth healing and finding his path in life while fighting monsters. 

Adam is amazingly well adjusted. He communicates his feelings, even if he struggles to do so, asks for help when he needs it and doesn't do the typical chosen one nonsense, even though he was literally chosen by not one but two powerfu  magical beings. He also is aware that his use of his magical abilities creates a power imbalance between him and the love interest and is careful not to abuse that. 

This was a fun and sad listen, and I am definitely going to be reading or listening to the rest. 


There were a few things I wasn't a fan of,

such as that Adam's first teenage relationship was an ancient elf who was supposed to be teaching him and that wasnt addressed as problematic.

But it could have been worse.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism

zoeyzebra's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Generally kept me entertained, but I could have done without the copaganda, and sometimes the pacing vacillated between quite fast and rather slow.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Murder

espiargrant's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the premise and the world, and for the most part I liked the MC. However, there were several things that kept me from loving the book as much as I wanted to. I felt that Adam was far too wishy-washy with his feelings toward people; he was constantly going back and forth, loving and hating all of his family members, and not in a way that felt natural. Other characters were perhaps a bit underdeveloped, like Vic, Tilla, and Argent. 

In terms of the plot, I liked where the story went, but it seemed like there were a lot of unnecessary detours (literally). There was a lot of driving/traveling back and forth between locations to the point where it became irritating and repetitive. 

And then there was the queer romance, which was the main reason I wanted to read this.

A Love Triangle? WHY? IMO, this is something a book NEVER needs. And it seemed that Adam having 2 love interests only served to ruin the development of either relationship. Adam's relationship with Vic seemed quite forced, and developed way too quickly for me. Yet, I still preferred their relationship to Adam+Silver which just acted like an obstacle to Adam+Vic, though felt a bit more natural.

So in that regard I was disappointed, but the queer romance was still presented better than most that I've read, so I plan to continue the series because at this point I'm absolutely desperate for a book with a solid, happy romance between men. Hopefully the trilogy improves in the 2nd and 3rd books.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia and Medical content

the_great_tumbleweed's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

A really refreshingly different fantasy story! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

ambientcrows's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Classism

flowerparrish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

AMAZING. PHENOMENAL. A TRIUMPH. 

Deeply invested and cannot WAIT to read/listen to the next in the series. Astoundingly good start for the first book in a series. World building is cool as fuck, blending traditional and innovative fantasy elements in an urban (and country) setting. Use of alternating POV and flashbacks added to the mystery and suspense brilliantly. 

Also, audiobook narration was flawless? Some of the best I've heard. 

Content warnings for: miscarriage, mental illness, (forced) institutionalization, child abuse, domestic abuse, murder

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use