Reviews tagging 'Gore'

A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

11 reviews

agooding's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Feminist retelling of Medusa’s story?! Yes please. Manisha is a badass. I loved her growth and self discovery and finally getting her due. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Death, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Rape

Minor: Pregnancy

anniekslibrary's review against another edition

4.0

I've read Sajni Patel's YA romances before and let me tell you, those are VERY different. I love an author with range! This book is brutal and graphic, but in a way that will (hopefully) make people feel empowered. You will root for the main character, follow her monster origin story, and wonder who the real monster is. This book is inspired by both the tale of Medusa and Indian mythology, a combination that worked exceedingly well and made for a very gripping read.

CWs: rape, murder, violence, blood, gore, death of parents, menstruation

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Gore, Death of parent, Rape, and Blood

alli_the_bookaholic13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Gore, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Blood

sestrout's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Gore, and Torture

mattyb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Best read of the year. Hands down. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Rape, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Genocide, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Colonisation, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Abandonment, War, Body shaming, and Dysphoria

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, and Confinement

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gore, Body horror, Grief, Murder, Classism, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Cannibalism, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy

loveat1stwrite's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gore, Blood, Colonisation, Death, and Rape

Minor: Abandonment

thatcrazyshipper's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault

_shari's review against another edition

dark reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Gore, Violence, and Sexual assault

piperkitty's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

I love how the author provides a glossary of terms and character names at the beginning of the book. This makes it easier to understand the story and the characters.

Even though the book is categorized as young adult fiction, it tackles some serious and important topics. It offers a powerful commentary on the social stigma surrounding sexual violence and gender roles in South Asian communities. Additionally, it explores themes of sisterhood, resilience, and revenge.

I like how we also get the backstory of Pratyush and Manisha, which progress from childhood to where they are now. When a temple visitor sexually assaults Manisha and pushes her off the mountain into a pit of vipers. A month later, the king sends Pratyush to defeat one last monster before he considers granting his freedom.

Manisha survives the numerous snake bites she receives and the venom that courses through her veins. Upon emerging from the pit, she finds herself more powerful than ever, with enhanced senses, skin as tough as armour, and blood that can petrify people. Pratyush is not aware that the "monster" he has been tasked with killing is the same girl he wishes to marry.

The age it is aimed at is definitely a dark story and something I recommend parents read first because of the trigger in the book.  


TW; SA, violence, gore, and misogyny.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, War, Gore, Addiction, and Misogyny