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The writing style is abrupt and brash which suits the story and the setting, but it does make connecting with the characters at first a little hard, or at least it was for me. I found it hard to feel attached to anyone until more than halfway too the book and at that point it’s too late.
The story itself is interesting and my favorite part was all the crazy demons they encounter but something was missing for me. Between Two Fires is a well written story and you can tell the writer is knowledgeable but I was never intrigued enough to want to pick this one up. I honestly don’t understand all the hype behind this novel. It’s fine, but not great.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
This is some of the best writing I have ever read. All of it. This book is horrifying and I love it so, so much. The war waging in heaven, the plague claiming France, the people trying desperately to survive. Thomas, Delphine, and Matthieu’s relationship to another and religion. The literal demons of hell they have to face along the way.
It feels truly hopeless and that God has abandoned man.
And yet.
I can’t in good conscience recommend this book without also warning that there’s a long, long list of content warnings to go with it. Just about anything one can think of is mentioned in this book in some capacity.
Still, this is an excellent book and I loved every moment spent reading it, and every moment I’ll spend thinking about it after.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Incest, Cannibalism
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Homophobia
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
While this book starts off really quite slow at first, it really ramps up in intensity and stakes midway through. And then when
I love books with paralleling ends and beginnings, and this one features this.
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Antisemitism
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Incest
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cursing, Xenophobia, Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual violence, Excrement