Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

28 reviews

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

abc27's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This novella has been on my radar for quite some time now and how or why I haven’t picked it up til just recently is beyond me. It’s a gory little package that packs one hell of a punch (maybe a couple punches)?

From the writing, to the imagery, to well developed characters. It’s hard to believe 158 pages flew by so quickly. 

Johann and Florian are the perfect brew of gothic vibes and just enough pressure to scare you, but not enough to kill you. 

Anyway, onto another crisis of figuring out what a name is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Body horror, and Body shaming

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

thelittle_seokmin's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

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

4.25

I had a lot of fun with this!! Love a dark atmosphere and Giesbrecht does s0 damn well delivering this. Obsessed with the writing!! ☆▪︎☆ (chapter one could've been a short story in of itself o0Ooo0 it's so good~)

I just could've done with more from it? Like i even more depth to the characters, even more explaination of what Florian's goal was. And I need closure in an ending which this didn't really give. It is a bit rushed and a bit too vague. Add a hundred or more pages for more greatness and this probably would've ended up as a fave. ♡♡♡

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Genocide, and Child death

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Excrement, Incest, Grief, Alcoholism, and Addiction

sofipitch's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

1.5

I read this bc apparently this author used to co-wrote fanfic with Tamsyn Muir and I am obsessed with TLT. So I should like this right? And while there were stylistic similarities I feel like I just read a mediocre fanfic for something that doesn't exist. It just felt so underdeveloped, the characters, the plot, the world building. Some stylistic choices I liked and then the characters would talk and it was awful. The most I liked was the gore. I considered DNFing multiple times but it was short so I figured why not. And while I knew what my review would say about half way through, I wanted to give this the benefit of the doubt that it would get better but nope, truly a "that's fucking it?" ending. Go girl, give us nothing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment

lunarreader's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

I picked this book up because I had heard some good things from a book reviewer I hold in high regard, and I was not disappointed. 
The Monster of Elendhaven tells the story of a monster who calls himself Johann as he aids Florian in his.... endeavors. A very vague description, I know, but this novella is so short that I feel telling you any more than that would spoil it. 
I was shocked at how quickly I knew I would like this book. I got maybe 5-10 minutes into the audiobook before I said out loud, "Oh I'm going to like this". Jennifer Giesbrecht does a beautiful job establishing Elendhaven and its characters in such a short time. I found myself really invested in Johann and Florian. As seen in one of my updates while reading I talked about how I am not usually kiki-ing over the romances in novels, but I found myself really wanting Johann and Florian to develop something more than this "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".
I truly think if you like semi-creepy books that are very atmospheric, I'd recommend it. Jennifer Giesbrecht's writing is so lovely and I truly hope she releases a full-length novel at some point because I really found myself wanting more from her.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, and Death of parent

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

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

rachelunabridged's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Gore, Classism, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Rape

lh_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

I listened to the audiobook and I think I might need reread of the physical later. Otherwise this book was pure chaos and I weirdly loved it. I enjoy character driven books more than the next person and this put me on a rollercoaster. I really was intrigued by the mcs dynamic even though how horrible they were. I wish it was longer though, I feel it could be fleshed out more if a novel and not novella 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Murder, Stalking, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, and Grief