Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

367 reviews

enyltiak's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

Gideon the Ninth was my first five star read of 2023, so I figured it was about time to continue the series. Where the beginning of the first book is a bit confusing in that classic new sci-fi/fantasy world adjustment sort of way, Harrow the Ninth is confusing in a trippy, clueless sort of way where you as the reader are completely in the dark alongside its titular character, feeling your way to some semblance of explanation. It's a slow burn for certain, and not for everyone, but I was personally a fan of the way POV is used in this book.

Despite the confusing nature, I managed to figure out that

Harrow had willfully replaced/removed Gideon from her memory in her grief (though I hadn't known fully why or how, of course)

. The last act of the book is action-packed and so fun. It really sheds light on everything vague that had occurred thus far, so you get some clarity seeing it through to the end. All in all, solid second book and definitely one that strikes a desire to re-read it and see it in a whole new light.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gaslighting, Vomit, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Death

drsinoire's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, and Murder

bebidocrimes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

While it's a little heavy handed on the dialogue explanations of the magic system and world building, I did have an easier time keeping track of the secondary characters. I agree that just accepting that you are going to be confused helps navigate the disjointed timelines. (Some fandom osmosis also helped me keep up, too tbh) I am fascinated by a depiction of god as a flawed and selfish individual who probably shouldn't actually be worshiped. I'm going to need to sit with this one for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Grief, Violence, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Cursing, Colonisation, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

xosirenox's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Vomit, Violence, Death, and Murder

notthatkat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is bonkers, but in some really good ways. As I was warned, a large chunk of the book is confusing and doesn’t line up with events that happened in Gideon. Harrow does say several times that she is insane. Readers should take her at her word. In the latter part of the book, things become clear with payoffs for the things that don’t make sense. In addition to continuing the overarching plot started in Gideon, Harrow is a poignant explanation of mental illness and grief. Some questions left hanging in Gideon are answered and even more are raised.  Overall I thought it very good and look forward to continuing with Nona. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Blood, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Body horror, Genocide, Gore, and Vomit

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

pixelorchid's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.75

What a ride! I loved the shifting perspectives and the story keeps you guessing up to the end. Not a book for the faint of heart. This one ups the stakes from the first book and is relentless in the intensity and graphic necromancy. It would be a 5-star but it didn't have enough Gideon in it. Looking forward to the next one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Body horror

immovabletype's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Cursing, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Body horror

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Genocide and Child death

turn_around_sammy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I love this book. Dark, emotional, necromantic space opera set over 10,000 years into the future- but manages to throw in a “none pizza left beef” joke. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Blood, Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Medical trauma

species10026's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death

Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Minor: Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content

monadocookie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, Grief, Blood, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Death, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: Vomit