Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

79 reviews

jareadforfilth's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad 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? No

5.0

People told me I needed to read this book for the loooongest time and I kept meaning to, but other books just kept jumping it’s place on the queue. I’m so happy that I finally took the time to read this book because it was INCREDIBLE!! I figured out the mystery and the villain fairly early on, but even so the way it turned out had me on the edge of my seat, heart racing!! Also there was a GLORIOUS twist that I didn’t guess at or see coming.

The trans/queer representation here is impeccably executed and while the struggles of our trans teen protagonist are a large focus of the book, Thomas does an outstanding job of letting Yadriel have an identity beyond just his transness and his struggle for acceptance. Yadriel is such a vivid, wonderful character who shines in his convictions and his tenacity. Julian is such a goof and I fell in love with him and his excitement for life and reckless abandon. Maritza is such a baddy and she is the kind of friend and family that we should all be lucky enough to have.

Lastly, the cultural richness of this book is so beautiful. Centering largely around the preparations for and celebration of Día de Muertos, the colors and vibrancy of the holiday were so paramount and honestly took on an almost character of their own. The spirituality and reverence were wonderful and beautiful and I’m so grateful to have been able to witness that on these pages.

This book is an absolute must-read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Death, and Transphobia

Minor: Deadnaming

merah's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

the writing is absolutely incredible. 
I felt every single emotion while reading this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Transphobia, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Medical content, Blood, Death, Murder, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Body horror, Deportation, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Dysphoria

Minor: Car accident, Confinement, Alcohol, Cancer, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Deadnaming

loads of knives, blades, cuts and stabbings

eve81's review

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Self harm

kalzeb's review

funny mysterious 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Blood, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Deadnaming and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, and Grief

braveprincess11's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Aidan Thomas has become an instant-buy author for me after this. I can’t believe this was his debut novel!

It’s beautifully written, has a diverse cast of characters, the representation is incredible… and the story! The story is so gripping; I fell in love with Yadriel and his family from the moment they were introduced. His relationship with Maritza is so heartwarming and beautiful. Watching Yadriel and Julian’s friendship grow throughout the book, and seeing Julian’s relationship with his friends… 

I can’t wait to see what else Aidan Thomas comes out with; Sunbearer Trials has officially skyrocketed up my tbr 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Kidnapping, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Car accident

agnela's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.25

What a disappointment. I thought this will be Latin American inspired Supernatural but queer. And it actually was all that, but lacking interest and quality characters, as well as lack in the world building and magical system. 
Maybe im too old but I think there are more important things in the world than to prove yourself, for example, actually deeply caring for your family member who you know through supernatural ties, is dead and missing. Or not holding a hot ghost boy on earth if he asks you to release his spirit just because you don't want to. 
And how about actually making the last big sacrifice count, huh? How about we don't fix everything just because we have magic, how about if a character does this huge thing and finally does something selfishly unselfish, we let them have it, and if they're saved, we make sure there's consequences? 
I missed explanations about the magical system. Indeed it was explained shallowly and the plot moved on. But I would have loved to actually explore tradition, how it changed, how the old traditions of native Latin Americans who worshipped a death goddess were influenced by Catholicism, why it's a danger and a rosary and not something more pagan and ancient. Why men's magical item had pagan roots while women's took a more modern approach. 
It felt like the author loved her characters and the plot a bit too much to make it interesting, as a self insert usually keeps you from doing it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Blood, Violence, Transphobia, Murder, and Kidnapping

tinyjude's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? No

4.5

So happy to exist in a time when these queer books exist and celebrate the lives of trans people from different cultures. I loved Yadriel and Julian's relationship, Maritza and Yadriel's friendship, the love and care put into making the story, characters and the representation and appreciation of their culture.

Younger me would have loved this even more 😭 it was healing to read specially in such an uncertain and terrifying time for trans lives and lgbt+ folks in general

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Murder, and Transphobia

Minor: Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Blood, Car accident, Homophobia, Deportation, Animal death, and Dysphoria

moniipeters's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Car accident, Death, Deportation, Gore, Homophobia, and Kidnapping

thesunreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

This book also heavily features ghosts/spirits, and passingly mentions possession. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Car accident, Deportation, and Deadnaming

sam_gartley91's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Death

Minor: Kidnapping