Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

8 reviews

dominiq_ec's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

5.0

I mean, this is just one of the best books I've read in a while. Considering another dystopian / apolalyptic favorite of mine, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, its so rooted in human rights issues in the United States, and is just dystopian enough to convince you that we may not see this come to fruition. But what if we do? How will you think? 

Spoiler

I thought that Thurwar and Staxxx both died at the end, but I was wrong and now my heart is broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Suicide, Cancer, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Cursing, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Blood, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Torture, and Self harm

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Hate crime, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident

I mean, this book does force you to take a relatively deep look at the United States penal system, which does include reading about the crimes some of these characters committed, as well as how they are (mis)treated by those that are responsible for their care. At the same time, these incarcerated folks are fighting to the death for entertainment's sake, so there's a lot of gory, violent descriptions. There is mentions of rape, but no graphic details. There is torture, and loss of life. It's a troubling book, so read with caution.

oz2021's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Torture, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide and Toxic relationship

lycheejelly's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma

texashippie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Classism, Domestic abuse, Racism, Lesbophobia, Gore, Homophobia, Police brutality, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Rape, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Violence

daniellekat's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? No

3.75

A very difficult book to rate. There was so much packed into this but overall it lacked focus. The author is a talented writer but, for me, this was messy and chaotic. There were way too many characters and names to follow and the changing POVs just added to the confusion. I enjoyed the addition of the factual footnotes, but the intermixing of fiction footnotes watered down the effect and distracted from the main novel. I can appreciate what the author was attempting and I think that there is much value in turning a magnifying lens to the American carceral system, but this needed more fine tuning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, Blood, Torture, Death, and Confinement

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Rape, Racism, Death of parent, Transphobia, and Sexism

emzhay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Police brutality, Trafficking, Murder, Gore, Racial slurs, Confinement, Violence, Mental illness, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

olivia_vosper's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Torture, Suicide, Self harm, Death, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Blood, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer and Transphobia

hawk_just_hawk's review against another edition

I know it’s an important topic and is working is all towards abolition, but I couldn’t handle all of the sinking despair this was bringing up in me. I felt like even the winners would be losing somehow. 💔😰

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Toxic friendship, Torture, Confinement, Body horror, Gore, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Murder, War, Racism, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief