Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

25 reviews

toopunkrockforshul'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It was interesting but also felt like it didn't need to be as long as it did (though how much of that is skewed by me trying to finish it by the deadline I'm not sure). I'm not sure if I will read the sequel, I thought the take on powers and school for kids with powers was somewhat unique, and I liked a lot of the characters, but again felt long to me. Maybe it would have been different reading rather than listening?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Gore, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, and Forced institutionalization

salemrose's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

The first half of this book is agonizingly slow, then the second half goes so fast it's almost hard to keep up and feels rushed. There's very little dialogue and a very heavy emphasis on plot and the telling of events rather than a focus on who the characters are and what their inner lives are like. Once the book hits it's stride it's not terrible but it takes a solid 400 pages to get there and I personally don't think it's worth the wait. Overall not the worst thing I've ever read but definitely not for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Racism, Child death, and Police brutality

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

eli_deatherage's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Felt a little slow here and there, but man it is worth it! Intriguing and mysterious world that never feels quite safe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death, and Stalking

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Kidnapping, Self harm, Torture, Gaslighting, and Racism

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

carol16's review against another edition

too many good books to waste time on this violent, dark, depressing book 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape

bucklace27's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

Too many different plot lines introduced without sufficient cohesion and context. And if I’m not invested in any of the characters by the first 100 pages, I tend to DNF.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Racism

Moderate: Death, Torture, Murder, and Gore

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Rape

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