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sheriffrockyraccoon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in what I would call “D&D” horror. It’s an unlikely group that set on an adventure with many familiar supernatural/horror events. I thought Grecian’s take on traditional folklore and ghost stories was a refreshing take that kept me on my toes.
For me, personally, the violence against animals was too excessive which is why I docked it a star. If that doesn’t bother you, I would definitely give it a read.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Cursing, Medical content, Suicide, Racism, and Vomit
Minor: Excrement, Fatphobia, and Stalking
fannikay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Gun violence, Violence, Child death, Cannibalism, and Gore
wyabook234'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Sexism
bookbrig'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? No
4.0
The ending didn't quite stick the landing for me, because after all the build-up I felt like it unspooled too quickly, leaving me wanting a little something more. But I'd still recommend it. I think I'll booktalk this one for teens who enjoy Stephen King, though I'd likely go with readers in high school or older.
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Suicide, Child death, Animal death, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Vomit, and Torture
Minor: Infidelity and Slavery
jkrhode's review
- 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
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Death, Blood, and Animal death
binchbean'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Animal death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death
lukewarm_ravens'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Child death, Murder, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, and Xenophobia
chrschn'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? No
5.0
Tightly written weird western adventure that reads equal parts folk legend and gunslinging thriller, with a healthy dose of dark, unsettling horror mixed in. Red Rabbit’s depiction of Kansas is rich in magic, witchcraft, monsters, and some things worse than monsters. The primary antagonist is deeply disturbing and feels like a slimy black ooze in your brain.
There are a handful of central characters in the mix, each with their own peculiarities and motivations, some good, some bad, and some that are revealed along the way. Despite the wide cast of characters, each feels lifelike and realized and really jump off the page. Found myself very invested in the ensemble cast, and was pleasantly surprised with one character in particular who at first glance seemed little more than a set piece, but ended up being one of my favorites in the whole book.
The writing is vivid and descriptive without stumbling over clumsy metaphors or flowery language, and every scene plays out like a scene in a movie. (Side note, I would be shocked if this didn’t make it to screen in the near future). It should be noted what an accomplishment it is that the horror elements are successfully visceral, creepy, grimy, and unsettling without resorting to the sexual violence or graphic animal death that so commonly plague the genre. I understand that some people find this more palatable, but it feels cheap and grating at this point, so the absence of such content was hugely refreshing.
Super fun book overall and will be recommending this one to anyone who will listen.
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Cannibalism and Animal death
rivercat0338'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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Death, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Body horror, Suicide, Gore, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, and Child abuse
bookjaims'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Child death, Cannibalism, Vomit, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Torture, Terminal illness, and Death