This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/white-trash-warlock-review-david-slayton/

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
I didn't know what to think going into "White Trash Warlock" by David R. Slayton but it certainly wasn't what I got.
Adam is a small time practitioner who stumbles on something life changing when his estranged brother asks him to help his possessed wife. He reluctantly takes the case and finds himself swept up in a battle between immortal forces that only he can solve.

And that plot is so good. It's got magic, elves, an ancient monster released onto the world (all elements I love) combined in a masterful way. White Trash Wizard is very much plot driven. The story is dynamic, the pace is ever quickening until the climax really ties all the subplots back into the main plot. It only took a couple chapters before I was engrossed in the book, after that I could barely put it down.

Slayton's writing matches his plot. He uses 3rd person POV to look into both Adam and his brother. But what's even more interesting is that Slayton titles the chapters differently whether his characters are in the present or it's a flashback. The writing itself is very straight forward no matter the focus character while Slayton incorporates heavier themes in the book without weighing the story down.

One important theme of the book is having a home. Adam's never had a stable home. Growing up, he suffered a variety of abuse which drove him away from his close family, to his great aunt Sue. While staying with her, he had a roof over his head but it wasn't stable, he worked odd jobs in order to have enough to live, and even then would sometimes go hungry. When the plot kicking off forces him to leave her, there is a sense that it is an ending. As the novel progresses, elements within the plot push Adam to not only stay in Denver but set down roots and create a home for himself for the first time in his life.

Another important theme is acceptance. Adam's family never accepted him, not his magic nor his sexuality. While he doesn't outwardly deny these parts of himself, he hides them away, and the plot forces him to face them. This journey is heartwarming as the support he receives from key characters allows him to explore both aspects.

In general, I very much enjoyed White Trash Warlock by David R. Sleyton. The characters were fun and the plot excellent, as was the writing. I look forward to reading the sequel.

A note of warning: This is a harsh story, it contains child abuse, murder, and more general violence.