Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

12 reviews

tinyjude's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

From the get go I fell in love with the atmosphere the author transports us into. The gothic vibes, the gorey and unhinged characters, the gruesome and fatally flawed (aka toxic) situations situasionship these two has going on. It reminded me of Bloodborne or Dishonored in some aspects, either by the vibes and monstruousity in it all, or the revenge at all costs plotline. I loved the writing too, hollow and haunting, full of imagery that surely clicks much better on a second read. The descriptions of the characters and the mythical aspect of the city, with us as spectators rooted in the city yet still watching everything unfold from a deep mist that clouds our perceptions in the same way the sorcerer manipulates everyone here. The idea of a master-monster also reminded me a lot of Frankenstein, although both stories differ in a lot of aspects. Nonetheless, I believe it's a gritty novella perfect for when you are in the mood to read dark, gory, stuff like for Halloween, and be left wondering about the world a little bit (a sense of acrid lingering that follows you around like the shadow of Elendhaven.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Stalking, Child abuse, Sexual content, Death, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Genocide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Torture, Rape, Alcohol, Drug use, Self harm, and Grief

Minor: Incest

bitter_rabbit's review

dark mysterious reflective

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, and Gore

Moderate: Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse

tey_lynn's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Child death

onemamareads's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-monster-of-elendhaven

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Blood, Gore, Rape, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Murder, Death, Child abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Sexual violence

theghostly's review

I was excited to read this because I was expecting an atmospheric and mysterious story but instead it came across as an overly edgy fan fiction written by some teenage girl who thinks a tall guy forcing himself on a “smol bean uwu” is the hottest thing ever. Very much not for me but i’m happy for anyone that did enjoy it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Gore, Incest, and Violence

kaiyakaiyo's review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Incest

bookworm4tea's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a dark and twisted story about two monsters who found each other. This was the perfect story to read before Halloween with its gothic and atmospheric vibes as we follow a monster who can’t die and his master who is another monster with magic and a need for revenge. I loved the odd, horrible yet adorable relationship between the two monsters as we learn more about them. This was such a beautiful yet disturbing story that was a the perfect quick read on a fall night. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Rape

meecespieces's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, Body horror, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Rape

mthevice's review

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Beautiful writing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual violence, and Genocide

aardwyrm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Pure dark chocolate in unsafe proportions, lovingly rendered villain protagonists full of weird, macabre nonsense and loads of gothic vibes. Skillfully rendered, 100% atmosphere by volume, self indulgent and exquisitely so. Anyway there's weird magic and a lotta murder.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Terminal illness, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Medical content, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Grief, and Gore

Minor: Sexual content