Scan barcode
archaicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one was uncomfortable, it was grotesque, it was violent and it was so, so weird! Despite this being only about 200 pages it took me awhile to finish because I had to put it down several times when it got too much for me.
If you’re looking for a short but terrifying novella with a weird story, and can ha die some pretty graphically grotesque imagery, check this one out.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Police brutality, Gore, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Outing, Self harm, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death, Medical trauma, Murder, and Torture
mikepalumbo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence
booking_along's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
the idea itself of a person somehow getting into a cult for some reason and that cult starting to cut of prices of humans.
this idea of being in that situation having to cut of body parts of someone alive is horrifying. so there’s the horror aspect.
but there is no explanations, no reasons given and no actual answers as to how or why Kline was even in that situation in the first place.
this book counts mostly on shock factors and brutality in stead of good writing, characters with characteristics or actual plot.
that’s not something that works for me.
i need something beside just one thing slowly building up on the next with similar horrific moments happening one after the other.
for what this did? it was doing it too drawn out and slow on to many pages.
it would have worked so much better if the entire thing would just have been about kline being in the situation of having to mutilate himself and what happens if he doesn’t and leave it at that’s
this wasn’t for me and i can’t really see why people would love it other than enjoying the repetitive gore and violence like a horrendously bad horror movie with bo budged.
Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Torture, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Body horror, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
readthesparrow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Ableism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Self harm, and Stalking
Moderate: Torture, Confinement, Stalking, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
madarauchiha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
▪ How do you know the moment when you cease to be human? Is it the moment when you decide to carry a head before you by its hair, extended before you like a lantern, as if you are Diogenes in search of one just man? Or is it the moment where reality, previously a smooth surface one slides one’s way along, begins to come in waves, for a moment altogether too much and then utterly absent?Or is it the moment when you begin opening doors, showing each man behind each door the head of his spiritual leader before killing him with the cleaver tucked into your belt? Or is it the moment when all these dead begin to talk to you in a dull, rumbling murmur? Or is it the moment when these same voices suddenly fade away and stop talking altogether, leaving you utterly alone?
There's a conversation to be had about using disabled bodies in horror specifically because oh no, they're not '''normal''' human body peoples?!?! what hte?!?!??eleven!!?! This book has a lot of that. I don't think I have the experience or tact to really delve into it.
It's not a horror novel, per se, despite the marketing. It's a noir mystery with religious cult horror. Don't expect cosmic horror, paranormal or supernatural horror.
The noir is present and quite clinical at times. Almost dry, but I'll chalk that up to me not liking noir [or gothic] genre at all.
Was this scary? I guess? It's scary in a gorey way. The disabled bodies were presented as horrifying and I don't think that's kind or respectful of people who are disabled or disfigured. Whether or not the author intended it, there's inescapable ableism present in the book. It was competently written and coherent, in the least.
minor vomit,
major alcohol, amputation, arson, demolition, injuries, fire, gore, gun violence, kidnapping, medical abuse, murder, police brutality, self harm, sexual content, stalking?, torture, violence
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Police brutality, Torture, Self harm, and Stalking
Minor: Vomit
babieghoul's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Violence