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albernikolauras's review
- 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
5.0
The plot follows a mangy group that go off to claim a reward for a witch they may or may not have killed. This book is a mix of Western travel and horror. It's a travel book, but it never seemed stuck on monotonous. It's bleak and heartwarming at the same time as these characters develop bonds with each other.
I wish I could revisit all these characters.
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Suicide, Cursing, Suicide attempt, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism and Violence
smurphy5337's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Suicide, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cannibalism, Child death, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Gore
krysley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The premise of this sounded great. I especially love when horror is combined with other genres, so I was excited to dive into this.
Pros: The music! I absolutely adored the music and the singing parts of this book. I replayed them multiple times, they were so good. There are definitely some creepy/horror parts in this. I loved how all the little elements and characters wove throughout and connected to everything. It was like little Easter eggs every time.
Cons: It did seem to drag a little bit in the middle.
The narrator: John Pirhalla caught my attention right away. The entire audiobook was so much fun to listen to.
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Death, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Suicide and Child death
noellelala's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Child death, Cannibalism, Animal death, Death, Torture, Suicide, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Violence, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism
ginabelle's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Body horror, Death, Child death, Cannibalism, and Suicide
fruitbatflora's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Body horror, Death, Animal cruelty, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cannibalism, and Slavery
Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
dogearedbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death, Murder, Animal death, Cannibalism, Child death, Gun violence, and Racism
Moderate: Slavery and Suicide
sarahweyand's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As someone who isn't big on westerns, I thought this was a very well executed horror-western-fantasy smörgåsbord . The writing was good, the characters were interesting and had compelling arcs and different dynamics with each other, and overall I really loved the atmosphere that was created. I enjoyed the feeling of dread I would get each time the group arrived to a new location because Grecian never failed to surprise and disgust me with where he was planning on going. Surprisingly, I found the ending to be touching and sweet and felt it was a great way to wrap up such a grim, dark novel.
I do wish this book was a little shorter and it did start to get formulaic/repetitive towards the end. I also felt like the overarching plot about Sadie Grace was a little anticlimactic and hastily resolved, but I didn't mind it too much; I understand what the author was going for and I know there has to be some inciting incident to get our gang together and on the road and the story is certainly more about the journey than the destination.
I think this is a wonderful addition to the horror genre this year and would recommend it to anyone who loves atmospheric horror. Definitely read the trigger warnings, but I wouldn't overlook this one!
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism, Child death, and Cannibalism
Minor: Suicide
erynlasbelin's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Murder, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gore, Vomit, and Alcoholism
Minor: Grief, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Body shaming, Cursing, Excrement, Fatphobia, Rape, Racism, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Medical content, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Themes of found family, gathering an adventure party, and good vs evil. Our main cast of adventurers is a dynamic and hearty bunch, mysterious backgrounds abound! The baddies are either absolutely unhinged, or total wretches that make you pity and hate them. There's an undercurrent of bumbling henchmen (with racist and misogynist tendancies) and it feels like every single character has the worst luck (aside from a few). There is gruesome violence and body horror, some spectral scares, and an overall tenseness to the story.
The pace was a little slower than I expected, considering the tagine, and I had issues remember the massive cast of characters between the constant shifting perspectives. All said and done, this book was a great time, equal parts hilarious and unsettling.
I listened to an ALC via libro.fm and the narrator was excellent. Showcasing various Western/Southern accents to easily deliberate between speakers, and perfectly portryed the deranged big baddie, John Pirhella was amazing!
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Death, Violence, Torture, Murder, Animal death, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Racial slurs, Vomit, Colonisation, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Cannibalism, Suicide, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief