Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

26 reviews

amandalachelle's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement and Excrement

barometz's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Cannibalism, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and War

Minor: Lesbophobia

corabookworm's review

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

3.0

I honestly thought this book was 5-star worthy for the most part. The writing was fantastic, the historical elements interesting but not boring, the story fast paced, and the plot intriguing. The explicit sex scenes threw me off and, due to personal preference, lowered the rating of the book to 3 stars. But otherwise I really liked it! If you're looking for short, queer horror with elements of religion, romance, monsters, and history, this one's pretty damn good!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault

Sexual assault is referenced/implied multiple times but never shown on page. There are pretty explicit sex scenes, so if that kind of stuff makes you uncomfortable, skip these parts:

pg. 100/65% ish and pg. 132/86%

. There's also pretty gory stuff, which is worst at:

85%/pg. 130ish

aromarrie's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

honest to god, this novella did what it wanted to do and did it fantastically. the author is seriously talented in writing a really good & creepy atmosphere—i already knew that,—so i was genuinely ecstatic to relive that feeling through their eyes.

bonus points for crossing into monsterfucking territory; truly, you don’t get to see this enough in traditional publishing. but this is also just a really cathartic read….and leslie and stevie were absolutely it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Gore, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

nostoat's review

5.0

I feel like a wild horse, a feral beast, a completely untamable creature streaking through a forest. This book starts with the feeling of oppressive humidity and looming mountains, everything crowding close around; too close too close. There's a copper and iron taste, from the biting of the tongue. 

This book ends with the tang of fresh red blood and earthy soil, the smell of woodsmoke. The queer laughter of two "degenerates" bouncing through the trees. I can taste this book, smell this book, feel this book on my skin. This book is a bloody middle finger to the insular, backwards-thinking Christian communities all around us. Cheers to Lee Mandelo for this one! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault

charleshasalibrary's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? No

4.0

Trans vengeance on smalltown religious bigotry, set in the hills of Appalachia where all sorts of beasts are known to wander... I stayed up until the witching hour reading this one, holding my breath the entire time. The Woods All Black was like a fever dream I never wanted to end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Abortion, and War