Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht

7 reviews

scottsland_yard's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

I was excited to read this after finding a signed copy in a local bookshop, though I was a little let down once actually reading it. Though at times I found the characters fun/likeable at times, the majority of the time I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on with the plot (and not in a fun mystery way) 

The plot line is convoluted and difficult to follow, the characters come across as a bit try-hard edgy (though they do have their moments), and the world building is lacking in substance and clear rules, especially around the use of magic. 

It reads like a Sweeney Todd fan adapted a fanfiction, which is unfortunate. 

That being said, it's definitely not the worst thing I've read, and I'm sure some would find it quite enjoyable. It's fantastical and gory, and it's a huge bonus that the main two characters are gay. Or at least, into each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Excrement, Gore, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Cursing

blacksphinx's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

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

2.0

When I looked up the author's name to see if she had written anything else, I was not surprised in the least to see she was one of the writers of the much-despised Homestuck Epilogues. I can feel the glimmer of Homestuck in the dialogue and humor, so take that as you will. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Self harm, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Medical content, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Child death

Minor: Stalking, Excrement, Genocide, Rape, and Incest

jenareuter's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Violence, Death of parent, Body horror, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, Physical abuse, Bullying, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Child death and Alcohol

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

inferiorwit's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Stalking, Self harm, Murder, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

Minor: Sexual content and Excrement

hawthornandhemlock's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

A perverse little story about monsters being monsters that will make you feel both gross and intrigued 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical content, Gore, and Death

Minor: Incest

emory's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Excrement, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Medical content and Pedophilia