Reviews tagging 'Death'

SLAY by Brittney Morris

21 reviews

sophia_gs's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing, Death, and Racism

readtomea97's review against another edition

reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

I really wanted to like this book but it was so full of eye rolls and just trying so hard to stay engaged. It really doesn’t pick up until about 1/3 of the way in. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Death of parent and Bullying

maralaene's review against another edition

emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This is an incredibly powerful story, with so many references to black culture in a ready player one style setting. My favorite parts about this story was the dialogue between characters, particularly between the two main game developers. 

While this wasn’t my favorite book, I do think it was worth a read. This book celebrates black culture and female empowerment and it is so awesome to read about a super smart, badass FMC (yay math 😁) in a book about video games! 

The narrators also did a phenomenal job for anyone who listens! The French POVs were awesome.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Minor: Death of parent and Death

katelynprice's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I'm pretty sure that this book made me start playing video games again. The world-building in the game SLAY is immersive and truly remarkable. I loved this reading experience and the themes of this novel, but I had trouble setting aside some of my disbelief with the MC and her secrecy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Death, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

adamsbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was such a fantastic read. We follow Kira who seems like your average highschool girl, but by night she is the Queen of a fantasy world called Slay. The only catch is no one know she is the creator of the game. Being one of four black students in an all white school Kira uses Slay to be close to other black gamers. After one of the gamers is murdered in real life, Slay blows up in the mainstream media. People call the game racist, offensive, discriminatory and it's up to Kira to stop the trolls and make Slay the fantastic world it used to be.

Kira was such a fantastic character. I loved seeing her vulnerability and how she educates people around her about race.

Even at the end she doesn't want to call the cops on Malcolm. The amount of police violence against black people is truly appalling. It truly shows how caring of a person Kira is she doesn't retaliate against Malcolms violence with more violence.

We see a constant theme of black excellence and it was beautiful. The descriptions of the Slay universe were so detailed and made me gasp in awe.

This novel truly feels like the authors love letter to her community. I am so grateful that I was able to read this novel before Republicans ban this book for being "Racist" like they are doing to other black authors writing about black experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Police brutality

This books talks about most of the mentioned content warnings in an informative way, not a derogatory way.

indydc's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Cultural appropriation

Minor: Sexual content and Police brutality

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

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

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

missreaderaddict's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Death and Child death

kstericker's review against another edition

funny inspiring 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Death, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Hate crime

thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Just like a newb in gaming, I found this book slow to start, but it started to pick up pace as more of the game/story went on. 
  
Keira is one of a handful of black students at her school, by night she is the developer of a MMORP for black players, SLAY.
  
When one of the gamers is killed IRL, SLAY is hurled into the spotlight around the world. Kiera must fight to save her game in both worlds.
  
Race is also a major part of this book, and although I am unqualified to comment on it, I appreciate how the author has included it as commentary and teaching/learning for readers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Racism

Minor: Death, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, and Racial slurs