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wobblin's review against another edition
1.0
I settled down with this to enjoy a Clive Barker book that I've somehow missed all these years and I now wish I could carry on missing.
Whilst we still have the usual sexual deviancy/sadomasochism/obsession with male genitalia which is an apparently necessary staple of Barker's work and would make for a decent, if dangerous, drinking game, we also have a 'story' scattered between all this which I can only imagine was written by one of his fans and edited by someone who was busy doing something else far more interesting at the same time. Parts of the narrative were missing which left me backtracking to make sure my memory wasn't failing. It wasn't.
My patience with this book ended when our strangely merry band of heroes eventually end up in Hell. HELL, and they still flirt and blush and lay on the innuendo like they're on a night on the town. Bizarre, and not in a good, Clive Barker way. I gave up at this point, I simply couldn't finish this book. I very much doubt Barker did either.
Whilst we still have the usual sexual deviancy/sadomasochism/obsession with male genitalia which is an apparently necessary staple of Barker's work and would make for a decent, if dangerous, drinking game, we also have a 'story' scattered between all this which I can only imagine was written by one of his fans and edited by someone who was busy doing something else far more interesting at the same time. Parts of the narrative were missing which left me backtracking to make sure my memory wasn't failing. It wasn't.
My patience with this book ended when our strangely merry band of heroes eventually end up in Hell. HELL, and they still flirt and blush and lay on the innuendo like they're on a night on the town. Bizarre, and not in a good, Clive Barker way. I gave up at this point, I simply couldn't finish this book. I very much doubt Barker did either.
sine_qua_non's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
tomby's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sandygx260's review against another edition
This is truly a dreadful book. I'm not easily disgusted, but this book is gross, plus the dialogue sounds like someone transcribed a murder at a drunken frat party.
lay_kone's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Homophobia
emcsorley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ericthec's review
4.0
I like to read at least one Horror title before Halloween, then found it at the library.
I am a fan of Barker's novel Imajica but actually think the Hellraiser movies are just B-movies. But Pinhead and Harry D'Amour are great characters. This was a fun read, with plenty of action. I understand some of the old fans who have been waiting for this are not as happy. I think the character of Pinhead has transitioned over the years. Here he is a Priest in Hell. The worldbuilding in Hell is good and very visual.
I am a fan of Barker's novel Imajica but actually think the Hellraiser movies are just B-movies. But Pinhead and Harry D'Amour are great characters. This was a fun read, with plenty of action. I understand some of the old fans who have been waiting for this are not as happy. I think the character of Pinhead has transitioned over the years. Here he is a Priest in Hell. The worldbuilding in Hell is good and very visual.
judecca's review against another edition
It didn’t feel like Clive Barker’s usual work.
ritikaupadhyay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition
dark
tense
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? No
1.0
Fully went into this thinking it was a sequel to Hellbound Heart when really, it’s got one character (Pinhead and he sucks ass in this book) from the book and then it’s all about Harry D’Amour. Whom is he? No clue, idk that man. I finished it but I hated every second of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, and Self harm
Minor: Rape and Sexual content