Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

SLAY by Brittney Morris

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

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.

cassimiranda's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

In this contemporary novel, we follow a young game developer as she navigates her senior year in high school. Kiera has her life planned, but she may not have fully realized the impacts of random violence, racism, and complicated domestic relationships. It isn’t precisely a coming-of-age YA story: Kiera faces challenges related to prejudice, code switching, profiling, and the Black diaspora. The characterization was pretty good, but a few characters weren’t as nuanced as I wanted. The plot is compelling and driven by modern headlines. Once you accept the very young solo game developer, the details of her game and the way it fulfills a fundamental need for safety for so many people is relatable and insightful. There were some predictable elements, and my experience reading was uneven. Sometimes I was loving it, sometimes I was rolling my eyes at the unobservant characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Stalking

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

quinn22's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Murder, and Child death

Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, Bullying, and Ableism

azaliz's review

emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

it's an amazing book! Full of Black culture and love and power.

It also shows Black women in STEM! People exploring who they are thanks to videogames (including trans and non-binary folks)! And just, people basking in a world where they can be themselves and not oppressed <3
There's also some very real discourse about what it means to be Black nowadays, the weight of history and prejudice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Stalking

Moderate: Murder, Racial slurs, and Gun violence

Minor: Transphobia