Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

16 reviews

ash06's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

This book dives into a world of kids with some seriously creepy talents. Think skeletons dancing and flesh melting—definitely not your usual magical school story. The pacing in the beginning can be a bit like watching paint dry, especially with all the grim street life and trauma these kids go through. It takes a while to get to the juicy bits about the villain, Jacob, and what’s really going on at the institute.

I almost gave up a bunch of times because it felt like nothing was happening, but I stuck it out, the last few chapters are where it finally gets interesting.

It’s part of a trilogy, but I’m not sure if I’m up for more of the same slow burn. If you’re into dark and gritty stories with a hint of hope, this might be your jam.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Child abuse

carizia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Child abuse

Moderate: Racism

redsflicker's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I really liked the thought behind the book. Though the characters i think could have had more to them, and i really disliked the run on sentences. I appreciate what the writer was trying to do and i liked it. Not sure if i will read the other two books though because the run on sentences were driving me crazy. Also there is a crow on the cover but a crow was only referenced once. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, and Gore

torie444's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Self harm, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Body horror, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment

catch__up's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Murder, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Self harm, and Grief

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Pregnancy, Racism, Torture, Body horror, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Self harm, Death of parent, and Stalking

lc_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

If you loved the Penny Dreadful series, this book is going to satisfy your want for something similar!
Ordinary Monsters took a tight hold of me from the very first page and it would not let go!

 In this gothic, victorian inspired world there are children with extraordinary gifts, primarily with enhanced regenerative cells. For example, there is a boy who can completely heal himself no matter the injury, and another girl can make herself entirely invisible. These children are called The Talents.
Agents hunt down these talents and take them to a British Estate where they learn to control their gifts and are protected from outside forces, especially from one Jacob Marber - a terrific, chilling villain with so much depth and a great past you can't help but love and hate!

J.M. Miro is a world building master. His descriptions of certain places are beautiful and gritty and painful. He's taken inspiration from all your favorites and collided them together successfully. 
Magic school for mutants? Check! Lovecraftian horror? Check! Dickensian conditions? Check!
And the author has taken his time to introduce every character and make you care about them. But don't get too attached because this world is dark and unforgiving. 

All in all this was a great first read from a new author and J.M. Miro might be a new favorite of mine. I look forward to the second book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gore, Bullying, and Child abuse

Minor: Blood, Racism, and Child death

clarabooksit's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Sexism, Self harm, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Racism

Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Death of parent, Colonisation, Ableism, and Abandonment

ktame001's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Body horror, and Child abuse

longstorysteph's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, Racism, and Death

Minor: Sexual assault

pickupthebook's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

When Ordinary Monsters was voted to be our most recent book club pick, I was hesitant at first - partly due to its size and partly because Victorian-era fantasies aren’t typically my jam. However, I was pleasantly surprised within the first few chapters. I immediately became attached to each of the characters and the situations they were thrown into. I really enjoyed that the “good versus evil” theme wasn’t quite what you expected it to be. I feel like the pacing was a little off in places, and I do think the book could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter. Overall, I still really enjoyed this and will most likely pick up the next book in the series when it comes out!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Child death