Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

36 reviews

starlesscircus'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, and Violence

rbash2391's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

I found the MC's relationship to be weird because of an age gap with a minor. The substance of their relationship was one of power and control, and the typical gender roles being subverted as each struggled with who they were and who they wanted to be based on a fantasy. The plot was really slow in the first half, it didn't pick up until about 60% and afterwards I was able to finish the book in one sitting. There was a lot of lore that wasn't explained until a glossary at the end that was hardly mentioned at all in the story. SMG's writing seemed so rich and elegant in The Beautiful Ones that I was a little disappointed to not find that here. However, I'm not a noir fan so that may have something to do with it as the story didn't really call for that style. I liked the urban, fantastical elements. I would have liked some more character development but in the end they are each not too much better off than how they started. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Dementia

Minor: Torture

30something_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

4.25 ⭐

I had such a great time reading this, especially considering I don't typically read Noir. I also listened along on audio while reading, and I think that really helped set the tone.

Dark, gritty, and very violent. This is the story of, Atl, a young Tlahuihpochin vampire who is on the run from a Necros vampire clan. She reluctantly teams up with a street kid from Mexico City, Domingo, in order to evade vampires, cops, and all matter of criminals that are looking to take her down. 

The vampire lore in this was just freaking fantastic. I loved the descriptions of the species and different subspecies and how the author wove it all together in this world. 

I can imagine this being a fantastic movie or graphic novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, and Death of parent

wenwanzhao's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Shoutout to this book for breaking my reading slump. I have never been much of a vampire genre reader, but this concept intrigued me. I liked how focused the plot was. Sometimes I feel like authors try and do multiple different plotlines, and end up losing the thread. Certain Dark Things is entertaining and thrilling throughout. Awesome lore. Realistic characters. Great read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Multiple POVs and a great modern take on a classic spooky creature- vampires. So many different kinds of vampires from different places are mentioned throughout which was nice to see instead of the typical/well known european vampire images we see all the time. How some characters stories ended was a little unsatisfying though, but I need to stop thinking so many characters always need happy or fully fleshed out endings. This story also touches on colonialism when talking about the europeans and their continental vampires arriving in central and south america.

very glad the dog doesn't die tragically in this book! I was nervous and a bit sad when Cualli was mentioned to probably be dead

Also quick note, I felt a bit weird about how Atl and Domingo's relationship went considering it was mentioned she was about 20 (yeah I get she's a diff species but still) and he was 17. I know at first she was like "no way" and had set that boundary, but then they did the do and I was not okay with an adult/minor situation

.

It seemed to drag a little bit in some parts, but overall, a great and surprisingly quick read. I've enjoyed so much from this author and it's a goal that I read everything she has done. 
Def check out content warnings for this as it is a vampire tale so there is a lot of blood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Cursing, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Classism

graycewith1y's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Sexual harassment

tajosima's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

This reads to me like an action movie. One of the good ones that has cool fight scenes, great atmosphere but also a very strong plot. i love the many different kinds of vampires. And how the author used colonialism in the story was clever. Domingo’s heart left me in awe so many times. sadly it is common to see a kind person being criticised and perceived as naive, and people called Domingo that in the book, but Domingo proved so many times that he knew what could happen, but he still chooses to be kind and hopeful. The end left me a bit disappointed cause I felt that it needed a stronger ending, but it might be a personal preference. Still loved the ride! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racism, Violence, and Colonisation

macknificent's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Drug use, and Vomit

mswarning's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Addiction, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

ruthlessreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I thought this book was okay. It was well written but I didn’t feel a very strong connection to any of the characters. The action felt a little forced and I was honestly bored at times. It wasn’t bad, by any means, but it’s not something I would read again nor that I would recommend to anyone who isn’t a hardcore vampire fan. I found the details about the different kinds of vampires to be fascinating and wish I’d been able to learn more about that specifically. I liked Domingo a lot even though he felt kinda flat to me, very typical “I’m obsessed with vampires” human. I wish we knew a little bit more about him as a person. The same with Atl, whose background I feel we only got the lightest of sketches of to explain why she was on the run and in Mexico City. I would’ve liked a longer book or for this to be the first in a duology about these characters, Atl specifically but also other important characters & the different clans. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Torture, Violence, Grief, and War

Minor: Sexual content