A review by sarah984
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

dark sad tense slow-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? Yes

2.0

I really wanted to like this novel about two ex-cons who team up to avenge their sons' murder but I just found it silly and kind of cheesy. Aside from the leads all of the characters felt like caricatures (the "anarchists" were genuinely embarrassing to read, I can't believe that made it to print) and the dialogue could get as preachy and didactic as the worst YA novels. Felt like a long unironic version of the "I love my dead gay son" monologue from Heathers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Car accident, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing