Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

78 reviews

zazreads's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is absolutely brilliant. It must be clarified that when I say it is brilliant, I am not claiming that it is ethical. The book is fucked, but the fuckery is strung together with the most witty and eloquent use of words. It is absolutely enrapturing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Excrement

rotfaced's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book inspired me to start writing again. My only complaint is that it is too short. The prose is beautiful, tightly written, and full of detail which makes rereading fun. I read this book twice, each time in one sitting; Many of my friends were able to do the same. If I were not currently lending it out to my friends, I would likely be reading it again. 

This book has incredibly dark overtones and sets the scene with a (TW) sexual assault, which is obvious if not terribly explicit. The gore is spelled out in detail. The main characters are well-personified bastards, obviously meant to be read as villains, and their relationship-- central to the plot and to the pacing-- is filthy and treacherous. This is not a light read, nor is it meant to make you feel good. You are getting right what it says on the tin, but I loved every moment of it. 

On Johann and Florian's relationship:

Disclosure: I am a bisexual man. I want more mlm content like this. This book is explicitly gay in its framing of the relationship between Johann and Florian (sexually/physically, if not always romantically). I want more awful, terrible men who are also queer. Reading this book destroyed my standards. I had given up on trying to find compelling queer men in rich fictional settings where the narrative isn't ABOUT being queer, and this book got my hopes up again. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, nor do I expect it to be, but it is something I wish we had the option to read more often.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Child death, Incest, and Pedophilia

Terminal Illness: Plague is a major theme in the book. Symptoms are described in visceral detail. Incest:

The incest is implied between the twin siblings, but not confirmed, with no explicit action that could be read as romantic instead of overly familial. It did not trigger me, someone who is triggered by incest, but I was wary of it and can understand peoples reservations.

hawthornandhemlock's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

A perverse little story about monsters being monsters that will make you feel both gross and intrigued 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Incest

izzybell's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

aasplund's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Murder

emory's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Grief, and Stalking

Minor: Pedophilia and Medical content

keen's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Death of parent

hungryandhappy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

It was bloodier than anticipated and the monster was so flirtatious I loved it! Many things happened in just a few pages and the ending surprised me a lot. Perfect if you're a fan if horror books but want a short one. And it's also queer, so even better!

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Content Warnings

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