Reviews tagging 'War'

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray

5 reviews

dejahentendu's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

A ghost story/mystery set in the 1920's in NYC. As the third in the series, it wraps up some storylines while bringing others to the forefront. It ranges across the city and involves a cavalcade of characters living their lives with psychic abilities. They save the city from the ghost invasion, but there is sadness and loss along the way.

The book was clearly written in the run up to the 2016 presidential election. Interestingly though, Bray was able to stay true to the time period while accurately reflecting what was going on in 2016 as well. 

Notably, Bray did an excellent job representing mental illness with grace and understanding. Her depictions were sympathetic and accurate. I was impressed. I've really enjoyed her writing since I discovered her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Racism

Minor: Confinement and War

rainbeauregard's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, Body horror, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Medical trauma, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, War, Violence, Slavery, Religious bigotry, and Ableism

This book is worth a read but it has a LOT of potentially triggering content

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

Loved this book. Love Libba Bray. Love all these characters but Sam Lloyd is my absolute favorite at the moment. This carried the series so well and upped the stakes and the focus on eugenics and having that angry conversation as well as radical protestors and just. It’s so good. History driven fantasy is wonderful. The ghost story aspects are wonderful. Just loved it. Loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Rape, Classism, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Religious bigotry

Minor: Deportation, Gun violence, and Ableism

This book includes characters who are Black, Chinese, disabled, Jewish, and gay. There are minor characters who are LatinX, Black, and Jewish. Eugenics is a central conversation in the book. It is very strongly opposed.

heather_freshparchment's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Religious bigotry, Classism, Racial slurs, Death, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

Moderate: War, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicide attempt

k_galloway's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, War, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, and Abandonment