Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

65 reviews

shannonweiss's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

A fast paced and exhilarating read - I was constantly on the edge of my seat. This book has action and excitement, moral dilemmas, and overall chaos, and it would make a great movie. The narration of the audiobook was also really good. No real complaints about this book (except for some of the decisions that the main character made, he should have listened to his wife all along). The ending did leave me feeling unfinished though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Racism

brandimoriarty10's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

Wow! This was a very fast paced and intense book. The characters were so well thought out, as I was reading it I felt I was in a movie with the images going through my mind. It was beautifully written and the plot was planned so well. A few times I felt it could have been cut down but that could have just me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The ending made me sad at one point, slightly disappointed in another and guessing. Anyone who loves blood, cars, car chases and intensity please read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Gun violence and Violence

avacadosocks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gore, Racism, Torture, Vomit, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Racial slurs

henriii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

i don't usually read thrillers, but i wanted to read more books by southerners; SA Cosby is from newport news, va, and it was wild reading this book, recognizing locations that i'm familiar with, and putting all of bug's excursions on a mental map.

this felt like an action movie in book form and was hard to put down. i finished it in three sittings. 

i didn't love the pained feeling i was left with at the end, when bug is standing in the wake of so much desolation and destruction with no real resolution, but that was a matter of preference rather than writing, and

i would read more from this author when i'm looking for an action-packed, suspenseful read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence

alyshab2005's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Lesbophobia

greatestheights's review against another edition

dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Racism, and Blood

riddlemesphinx's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia

avibc316's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Violence

directorpurry's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Violence

karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

You know those instances where you know the situation unfolding is about to go South, but you just cannot look away?

That’s how this whole book felt & I loved it!!

This isn’t your typical thriller so don’t go into this with that mindset. This story is noir at its finest— fast paced yet somehow slow moving at the same time with Cosby’s intricate storytelling. This book gets violent, gruesome, and goes to show the lengths people go to in order to protect their family.

Cosby doesn’t shy away from visceral descriptions, so be aware of that when picking up any of his novels.

If you enjoy multiple POVs, heist storylines, and the Fast and the Furious franchise, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol