Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - Horns

Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

bookbelle5_17's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

A Review of Horns

By: Joe Hill

Iggy Parrish had a pretty good life with his older brother Terry, his parents, grandmother, best friend Lee, and a loving girlfriend. Then his girlfriend, Merrin is raped and murdered after they had a fight and on the anniversary of her murder he wakes up after a night of drinking with devil horns on his head. These horns have the power to make people reveal their darkest thoughts and he learns everyone, including his parents and grandmother, think he killed her.

The monsters in this story aren’t supernatural, despite Iggy having supernatural powers, but are human. It explores how everyone has darkness in them and how it’s hard to have faith in God when shitty things happen for many people. After Merrin’s murder, Iggy begs the question, how can believing in God be the right when he lets things like this happen. Merrin believed in God and wore a cross necklace, the very piece of jewelry that brought Iggy, Merrin, and Lee, who also has feelings for her, together. Along with Iggy’s story, we see Lee’s story. His friendship with Iggy becomes complicated and full of envy and resentment, on Lee’s part. He manipulates Iggy and clings to whatever time he can get with Merrin. He feels entitled and is obsessed with her and believed when Iggy and Merrin broke up she would get together with him. He might even have something to do with her murder. The story reflects how easy it is to be tempted by the devil, because the devil might make things easier and give you the revenge you desire. You can become the devil yourself. Iggy is able to get people to confess their darkest thoughts and worse impulses, including learning from Terry who murdered Merrin. This causes his own demon to emerge and he sees the devil as his ally rather than God. I don’t agree with the conclusion Iggy comes to, but I understood where it was coming from. The antagonist is a well-rounded character that I felt pity for, but also hated. The supernatural element was a fun way to look the ugly side of grief and how it’s often easier to deal with anger then sadness.

Content Warnings