Reviews

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

shalanna's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

This was a vicious little novel with a lot of graphic violence! It was an odd tale of revenge and a weird romance (I guess you'd call it a romance) that was dark and gripping and hard to look away from. 

I listened to the audiobook and read along with the Kindle edition. I really enjoyed the reader of the audiobook. He did a creepy job!

codysmovingcastle's review against another edition

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4.0

I really liked this. I can't totally see why this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it was incredibly immersive for a novella. If dark, deranged, gothic, queer, magical alternative universes are your thing, I recommend it.

tuckeralmengor's review against another edition

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3.0


Many thanks to Tor.com for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

Dang, this was dark.

I'll be honest... I completely forgot about this ARC. It sat on my shelf for months.... but then I heard it was gay and my interest was peaked so I picked it up. After all, it was short so if I hated it... it's not like I would have wasted that much time.

Fortunately, I didn't hate it. But I didn't love it either. This book follows a man. A man without a name, a monster who cannot die. He, along with his frail master, go about taking their revenge on everyone in the city, even if they have to burn the world to do it.

Again, neither hated nor loved this book. It was very dark and unsettling but it was still a bit of a letdown.

All in all, I would say that this is worth a try. It may not be mind-blowing and amazing but it's nice and short. Basically, this book is a lil bite sized snack for those looking for those looking for a quick horror story!

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houdini117's review against another edition

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

3.0

egrace13's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

why_no_rat's review against another edition

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4.5

i’m in jennifer giesbrecht’s walls

jordie510's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

This book is not for me. I’m giving it 3 stars because I feel like it’s probably a great book for someone who likes more horror and some sex. The horror is not overly disgusting, and the sex is mostly behind closed doors, but it bordered on just a little too much for my personal tastes. This was a new genre for me. Glad I read it. Glad I know that this isn’t the genre for me. 

ancientcoconut's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

4.25

when you show up to a freak matching contest but your competition is Johann and Florian 😔

maddyephraim's review against another edition

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

4.25

Lovely irredeemable messy gay people. A wonderfully miserable and well-developed setting with characters that feel like they could be straight out of the locked tomb series. Ending fell a little flat at the climax, but man am I a sucker for books like this 

lacisrambo's review against another edition

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fast-paced

2.0

This book was very dysfunctional. There were a lot of times where I had no clue what was really going on. It’s a short story, so it’s all fast-paced. It’s a messy plot, and I wish it all was organized a bit better. Overall, it was an okay book. I kind of pushed myself to finish it just because it was so short. I’m left thinking, “Okay, what was all of that about really?” The only things I can really say are, it’s about magical revenge, sea myths, plagues, and a peculiar set of men set out to work around these things. If you don’t like reading about MM love interests, don’t read this. 0 spice, but it’s enough to leave a homophobe uncomfortable. lol I’m giving this book a 2 just because it didn’t grasp anything from me and I’m left confused and a little disappointed.