Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Slay by Brittney Morris

7 reviews

jennmichelle_otsr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? No

5.0

This is my first read by this author, and I devoured it in two days. I picked this book for the 2024 PopSugar Challenge for a book that centers on video games. This book is so much more than that. It deals with heavy real world issues (racism, loss, belonging, a trans character, and an abusive relationship being among them). I did not want to put it down when I had to go to bed the day I started it, and the next day I read it almost nonstop until I finished it. There were some surprises, and I really felt for these characters. They are richly drawn. I debated on the rating for this one, but since it was not predictable and because I could not put it down until I knew how it ended, I am giving it five stars.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Stalking, and Death of parent

There was a bit more profanity than I expected going in, but the teen characters voices ring as authentic. The various narrators helped keep me engaged throughout.

cookiecat73's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Acephobia/Arophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation

fantasyshelves's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

libss's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Racism

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

melplays9000's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.0

This book really flew by for me. I wasn’t checking the page number every couple pages like I normally am and I wasn’t even aware of the time while I was reading. I loved the whole concept of this book which drew me in right from the start. A black author writing about the black experience usually intimidates my pathetic white arse (I’m working on it) but this book was so much easier to read than I expected. I loved the conversations this book had and I feel I learned so much from reading it. My favorite part was the characters, they were all so complex and really felt like real people which definitely helped drive the story.

I don’t know exactly what I didn’t like about this book, but I know I can’t give it 5 stars because it just didn’t have the feel of a new favorite. It was quite short and I never truly got invested before it was over. 

I’m so glad I read this book. I need to make more of an effort to pick up books with characters and experiences unlike my own; this book was definitely an excellent start to that. Great book, would recommend. 4 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

amibo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

alisazhup's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-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

OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING! This book deserves SO MUCH HYPE! There was a nuanced discussion of safe spaces, a cute sister/family relationship, an epic video game world, an exploration of what "Black excellence" really means, themes of internalized racism, girls in STEM, Black culture, friendship with people from different races, different regions/countries etc. etc. etc. As a white person this book gave me a lot of perspective. I only wish it was longer! I think a sequel could work with this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer, Racial slurs, and Terminal illness

Minor: Cursing, Police brutality, and Medical content