Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

48 reviews

snackattackisback69's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

As a fan of Bloodborne, I loved the premise and atmosphere of this novel due to the similarities they share. The unsettling city of Elendhaven and the rot that was consuming it from the inside out was right up my alley. The writing style was both descriptive and engaging. I enjoyed following the two main characters and their dysfunctional relationship. My one issue with the novel is how short it is, as I would've loved more time to delve into the horror of the city and flesh out the ending which I felt was rushed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, and Blood

Moderate: Confinement and Rape

Minor: Stalking and Incest

shadowspinner's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Gun violence and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Death of parent

cathgotaknife's review against another edition

dark lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Stalking, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Death of parent, Child death, and Death

wichbich's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

The first book from this author. It wasn't my favorite story ever, but I enjoyed many of the conventions that were played with and really liked the world building a lot. Would definitely pick up another book from this author, especially if it expands on this world more. The lore was definitely the best part though I did really enjoy the grimey romance element. The characters themselves didn't really have much of an arc but it's a very short book so it makes total sense. All in all I thought it was a fun, interesting read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Suicide, Child death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Sexual violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Physical abuse, Excrement, Genocide, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

joy_ong's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, and Gun violence

reisuki's review against another edition

dark tense

3.75

I should read more stuff like this because I always get pleasantly surprised everytime I rediscover I like horror in any type of media. 

It was going somewhere but then it didn't, you know? Lol. It was building up to something and then.. ?? Nothing. It felt rushed in the end. The lack of plot (so they said) didn't bother me too much. So. Tentative rating. 

The longer fall I was looking for? To know that I was summoned up from the dark ether to do a monster’s deeds for Hallandrette’s truest son? And when our work is done, I will carry him to the bottom of the sea, where we both belong. Deep beneath the silt our bones will turn to salt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Gore, Blood, and Death

Minor: Sexual harassment and Rape

abyissmal's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

There is a craving when I flicked the last page of “The Monster of Elendhaven”. A desire to know more about the place that lies at the end of the world; to witness more of Johann’s murderous spree; to watch as Florian ensured his life’s work would meet its end. I was satiated, sure. But I wanted so much more from this book. This place is pulsing with death, corruption, rot—all possible wretchedness you could possibly think of. These characters are undeniably cunning, biting, and with monstrous desires of their own longing to be sated. 

Giesbrecht’s writing has such a grotesque yet somewhat elegant flair that elevated my senses. You can feel the density of Elendhaven’s air. You can almost taste the lingering scent of iron from the bloodiness of this book. You can feel yourself tingling from disgust. It is grimy. It is full of rot. It is corrupt. It is dense with death. 

That growing desire to know more ceases to end. Despite the book’s fascinating and dense with delicious horror, I believe there’s more to be said about the story and the characters. Although it isn’t necessarily fast-paced, I thought everything felt abrupt. And by the time we reached the end, it had simply… ended. I wanted more of them. I wanted to know more about the monsters that have their grip on Elendhaven. I wanted more of the convoluted dynamic between Johann and Florian and just as I was witnessing it grow, that was it.

I wanted to see more development with them as individuals. The book is primarily spent its time through Johann’s perspective, but even so, I felt very little development from him. It’d only been sprinkles of it here and there. From his lack of understanding about humanity, about himself, and how he grows some form of fondness towards Florian. But that was that: only sprinkles of them.

 

However, that’s just about the only issue I had with the book. Its only lack is its length. That it ended so quickly before I was even ready to bid my goodbyes to these characters. Before I could understand them on a deeper level. It feels like a story that could’ve gone a little longer than it did. Just stretching a little longer to allow the characters, the world, and its story to flourish. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Incest

asperomari's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Sexual content

smartie_chan's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.5

1.5 / 5 Stars

CW: Rape of a child, Death, Blood, Gore, Murder, Dub-Con


The fact that this almost won the goodreads choice awards makes me question y'alls taste in books.

Wouldn't even reccomand to my enemies- if I had any

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexism

jenareuter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Violence, Death of parent, Body horror, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, Physical abuse, Bullying, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Child death and Alcohol