Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

119 reviews

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

They almost had me with that fake out at the end but I’m so glad it ended how it did. I can’t fathom how the justice system will handle the latest events of the house but that ain’t my business, I suppose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

babayagareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This follows Margaret, who is, above-all, proper. Her voice is so prim, it leans toward endearing and funny. I feel I know her and appreciate her. This book is riddled in metaphor,

almost all concerning varieties of domestic violence and spousal abuse

. 

I read this on my phone, which made keeping track of the page count difficult, but also when I thought it was over, it was NOT over. And I was angry with where I thought it was going to end. Visceral disappointment. Luckily, I was wrong and there was the true climax around the corner. 

The true climax's metaphors floored me.

The women and children rising up against the abuser and the POLICE (especially the male officers) felt all too familiar. Jasper, the other male ghost of the house, and presumably Hal, were silent bystanders to Master Vale's demise.

I love a haunted house story that doesn't demonize all the ghosts, but also doesn't shy away from their misdeeds. 

This one avoids too much gory detail at the begin, but holds no punches as the story progresses, much in line with the main character's mindset as the month goes on. Do not read this book if you cannot handle gore, especially toward

children and birds.

Some of my favorite themes here beyond the haunted house component: strained relationships between mother and daughter, close quarters cohabitation, exorcisms, and seedy motels/bars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, and Child death

mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Fun twist on a haunted house story for sure. I walked into the book expecting a good cozy horror mystery. I walked out of it feeling like I got my fill of a good haunted house tale AND a thoughtful exploration into how our lives and the people in them can shape the decisions we make. 

Margaret was a character that you couldn't help but root for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Vomit

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a great read with a satisfying ending. So many scary moments and I loved the author’s delivery of those scenes, totally matter of fact, which combined funny with freaky. What a fantastic debut from Carissa Orlando, I’ll definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Gore, Body horror, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Murder

purstiltski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Self harm, Cursing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcoholism

Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Mental illness

izypup's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love when women 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gore, Murder, Child death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Cannibalism, Animal death, Torture, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

adrilynn21's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Child death, Gore, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism and Animal death

cowboylikestoread43's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved it, dark and creepy yet some how hopeful. The writing is phenomenal. A must read for any fan of horror or those just starting to get into the genre!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Violence, Child death, Cannibalism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Murder, and Gore

rachelunabridged's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Suicide

tarfishy's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Torture, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Child death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Death