Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Near the Bone by Christina Henry

26 reviews

aparker89's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ahhh! Ms Henry has done it again! Damn! I'm shook!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Physical abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Blood, Child abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Trafficking

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infertility, Murder, Death of parent, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexism

sabrinz's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

The story starts with a young woman living at the top of a mountin in an isolated cabin with her husband. She stumbles upon a killed fox that raises some alarm bells, her husband, however, dismisses the fox initially and is more than angry with her for dallying in checking the snares - the task he had set for her.
As we follow Mattie and discover that her husband is far, far from loving and caring and that there is more to the dead fox - a huge beast roaming the mountaintop that will draw people and endanger the isolation William, Mattie's husband has created.

The story is quite gripping and the tension is high throughout. In addition to the monster, the story of how Mattie (and William) came to be on this mountain top is shown as well, picking up on important topics of blame and guilt along the way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, Confinement, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Blood, and Sexual violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Animal death

mandi_lea's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Gore, Miscarriage, Murder, Violence, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence

sonygaystation's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I had so much fun with this omg it reminded me so much of Until Dawn and that video game is a blast!! Love me a good creature feature horror and this did not disappoint. My only wish is the ending was a little more fleshed out  but it definitely does leave an air of unsettling to have it end the way it did

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Sexism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Miscarriage, Confinement, Grief, Death of parent, and Vomit

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Rape, Gaslighting, Drug use, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Alcohol

batcaves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Violence

viselik's review against another edition

This book needs a fucking content warning. I adored Christina Henry's Lost Boys and was super excited to see a horror/thriller... But I did not expect whatever the fuck this is. I am uncomfortable with the huge focus on Christianity in this book and the undertones of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Animal death, Violence, Domestic abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Vomit and Adult/minor relationship

hannahstromauthor9's review

dark hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book was a fairly unique take on monster horror, mainly focusing on the domestic abuse Maddie faces from her husband than the the actual monster. The story about Maddie and William was deep and dark. But I do wish the book mentioned the monster a bit more for being a monster horror. And it kind of got slow and repetitive during the middle.

Regardless, I did enjoy the book.  It was empowering, thrilling and hopefu. I was really rooting for Maddie as a character and felt the book really made the reader have a tight connection with her. 

I also felt like the book left us with some unanswered questions about a particular character. I just needed another chapter or so for closure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Gore

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Miscarriage and Kidnapping

elskabee's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

 This was a compelling horror novel where the horrors humans can inflict outweigh the horrors of an actual monster stalking our MC through the remote wilderness.

For me this book was not a comfortable read, but most of the things that happen to the MC are left vaguely described (most, not all). William's monstrosity still is more than clear and the MC's mental journey of starting to deconstruct everything she'd been brainwashed to believe as her memories come back is beautifully done. Being in Matty's head is incredible, she's smart and compassionate and finds an inner strength that made this story feel powerful rather than depressing.

I won't say this is a perfect book. As terrifying as the actual cryptid monster is, those looking for a creature horror will likely leave feeling unsatisfied. Although Matty is smart and careful, the strangers she meets make some stupid decisions that are kind of frustrating. But imo it was fairly tolerable because at least we still had Matty and their motivations for the decisions were understandable (but still stupid). The abruptness of the ending was very jarring for me as I felt that some things were left unresolved and I also just wish I could have known more about events afterwards.

Highly recommend, but definitely consider the triggers before picking up 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death, Animal death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, and Rape

Minor: Confinement

additionally: brainwashing, religious abuse rape is not on page/described, but it is referenced fairly frequently

nicole_cob_reads's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Confinement, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Infertility, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Rape

sophiesbookshelf2's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I found this tense, dramatic and thought the characters were very realistic. As much as I wanted Sam to stand up for herself I could easily understand her fear. The pacing was pretty good too. I kind of wish the 'wild monster' got more explanation but still a pretty good survival thriller

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Gore, Violence, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Miscarriage