Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

10 reviews

lilymaerobson's review

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Death of parent, Death, and Cancer

Minor: Abortion

tibbarasden's review

dark medium-paced

4.0

Very meandering and not what I expected based on the synopsis. The synopsis had me expecting the horror attraction and monster aspect to be a more central focus of the story. Really, the focus was more on this family and Noah's perspective, specifically. Though the monster is a big part of Noah's life. That said, I think the synopsis did what it could without spoiling the story. Also, why the constant pop culture references! That is a personal pet peeve, and so I try not to judge too harshly. There were even some points where I thought it worked well for the story and was a clever nod for those who get it. Still, even knowing my personal grievance, I felt it was a little over the top. That said, the story really comes together in the end, which I found enjoyable if not mind-blowing. My favorite parts were the Turner sequences. Loved that aspect.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

dpsmom's review

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

More geared like Lovecraft horror than Stephen King horror. Weird and a bit uncomfortable in spots. Not an overly complex read, making it quick to get through. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Grief

a_novel_craving's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Cancer, Child death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

kittykaz's review against another edition

This was written by A Man. And he kept referencing Lovecraft.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Death

zedihunter's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Death, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Cursing, and Cancer

Minor: Pedophilia and Adult/minor relationship

roadesntoades's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

A strange conglomeration of horror, fairytale, and depressing reality this book really takes you across all genres it seems and leaves you at the end asking, where is the rest. Something that the author does on purpose. Throughout the book you are teased as to who or what the antagonist is, why it is Noah, why his family is involved to reach a somewhat titled ended.

While I think the ending of him taking the place of his family and becoming apart of the City is twist that seems obvious yet shocking is is what he ends his narrative with that sticks even more.“Oh God. It hurts.” And that’s it. Nothing more. Nothing less. We are even told my him he wanted to end the story where it ends, not where it is happy. Something I think is refreshing in horror, with authors usually be afraid to let their drama end not in bright hopeful joy but reality that this is going to hurt.

. My only real critique is that it seems to use sex as a shock and awe tactic to up some of the horror or confusion as to end.

There is pedophilia, grooming, statutory rape, homophobia, religious trauma, dubious consent; among other triggers that just don’t get a build up to or a warning or notion it was going to happen. <spoiled>. All in all I enjoyed it, except the surprise

monster fucking

like I coulda used a basic ass warning for that

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Sexual content, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Infidelity

Minor: Ableism, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, and Incest

trailmixraisins's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

What if monsters were not just our imagination but living alongside us, watching us? A creepy story of Lovecraftian horror that follows a family for three generations.

The sexual turn it took about three-quarters of the way in was kind of gross and off-putting. I would've enjoyed it much more without that aspect.

The world-building was a little weak, but it was mostly cohesive throughout.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content

Moderate: Car accident, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Kidnapping

Minor: Death, Gore, Grief, Torture, and Mental illness

malloryfitz's review against another edition

dark mysterious

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, and Torture

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Abortion

hauntedtesty's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

0.5

Can't recommend. This is possibly the first book that triggered my eczema from rage, which is somewhat impressive. 
Avoid if you have CSA triggers, because the monster grooming a child to the point of a romantic relationship at the age of 16 onwards (shout out to the monster turning into a hot red head for this) was something I read warily, waiting for the endpoint. And then the endpoint is the character remaining in that relationship, with tacit approval from the author? Between this and another young girl being blamed for being in a relationship with her teacher (acting like she's stroppy and unreasonable etc), I saw a theme I hated.

As this was a lovecraftian inspired tale (taken from an interview), I could see the glimmer of a novel where the tragedy and horror is that characters are trapped by terrible decisions, with monsters siphoning the fear and a more clearer 'oh god, its literally groomed a child for sex'.
I will say that the haunted house aspect of the room shifts was good? As it is, avoid. avoid. avoid. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship