Reviews

The Books of Blood by Clive Barker

elyseabrooke's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

avalin1's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

5.0

thegoodmariner's review against another edition

5.0

I really love Clive Barker. And I forget how much sometimes. These stories are part of his straight-up horror writing, which he moved away from later on. But they are worth the time.

renicula's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Violence, Gore, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Sexism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Child abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Alcoholism and Religious bigotry

tarainez's review against another edition

5.0

More of a 4.75. The only reason it doesn’t get a perfect 5 is because some of the stories lagged for me, but overall, this is a great short story collection (well, I guess technically 3 collections lol). I think it might’ve worked better if I had read it over a long period of time and hadn’t consumed it so quickly, because I found myself struggling at times, but that had nothing to do with Clive Barker and everything to do with my short attention span lol

curtiswastaken's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

 overall great with just a few clunkers (12-15 below), overall ranking

1 Rawhead Rex
2 In the Hills, the Cities
3 Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament
4 The Midnight Meat Train
5 Dread
6 Confessions of a (Pornographer's) Shroud
7 The Yattering and Jack
8 Hell's Event
9 Pig Blood Blues
10 Scape-Goats
11 Human Remains
12 The Skins of the Fathers
13 Sons of Celluloid
14 Sex, Death and Starshine
15 New Murders in the Rue Morgue 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Gore, Body horror, Gaslighting, Child death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Slavery, Violence, Sexual content, Rape, Racism, and Sexual violence

ladyjedi's review against another edition

5.0

Clive Barker is brilliant. Along with Imajica I think the Books of Blood are his best work I have read up to now.

lucashearn1's review against another edition

4.0

Some really enjoyable short stories. There are definitely a few that are memorable than others, but they all were at least interesting. Why can’t I do half stars on here? That’s a tab frustrating.

jeff_clutterbuck's review against another edition

5.0

This would have been a classic 4.5 rating, but since we don’t have that option, I went for the full 5. As far as a collection of short stories go….it’s hard to beat this particular collection. As with every such book, a few don’t really work, particularly in Book 2. But the stories in 1 and 3 are ones that I simply adore…so 5 stars it is!

dr_froinkensteen's review against another edition

Not a fan of the narration voice