Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

20 reviews

lauren_miller's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

this book was the very definition of slow burn. slow characterization. slow plot. slow action. slower resolution. everything about it took its time, and yet, I found myself engaged the entire time. I really wish this were a standalone b/c the thought of two more long-ass books like this has me already exhausted, but I'm so desperate to know what happens to Alice and the kids that I don't think I'll have a choice... would I recommend? maybe. if you're a fan of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell or a Sanderfan, you will probably blink at the length and dive headlong right in without a second thought. if you're looking for intensity, energy, and a fast pace, please move right along; this is not the one for you.

4.25 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror

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

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

mercourier's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

4.0

Good writing, good plot twists and some good dark gory fighting. It's a thick but surprising book. The ending is really brutal though and if you don't think blood and gore this might not be the story for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

Minor: Classism

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

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

I really loved this book. It reminded me of lots of other books but it’s its own creature. It’s got the feel of Addie LaRue and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and it’s got talented kids and a special school like X-Men. 

By the end we’re following at least three storylines, all about a great evil that’s going to release the dead into our world and the forces of good that are fighting to keep that from happening. The children are unusual - one has a separate flesh giant that smells of rotting meat but the rest are more appealing - and the monsters are indeed monstrous. 

I’m delighted to report that there’s a hero cat. I’d have given this five stars even if there weren’t a hero cat, but the hero cat puts this firmly in the ten-star category. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Gore, and 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