Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

25 reviews

mikayyyla's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I had such a hard time rating this book. I absolutely loved the premise and the world building checked all the boxes for me. Personally, the writing was lacking just a bit for me. I wish this book had been a little longer and had delved deeper into the many characters it introduced. I also felt confused by the characters at times because I believe they were supposed to be younger than they seemed to me. The body horror and gore were done very well in my opinion and gave me some visuals that I’m sure to have nightmares about. 

I definitely think it’s worth a read, if only for the fascinating and frightening premise and world building. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Body horror

i_dontcaroline's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence

alisonvh's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This book is good, but I’m not sure I enjoyed it. It’s very dark, and I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Suicide, Self harm, Physical abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Violence, Murder, Blood, Addiction, Child death, Torture, Ableism, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Colonisation, Bullying, Body horror, Alcoholism, and Animal death

mermaidsherbet's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Cannibalism, Confinement, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Excrement, Genocide, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

loscamp4lyf's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

a fast pace fantasy-horror-blood bath! theres so many characters its hard to keep track of who is who, but

they most all end up dead so its not worth remembering their names

. I found the Nessa's absolute devotion to Anto a bit annoying, but if its the only thing keeping you going, go for it girl. 

Conner was also annoying and im a bit miffed his storyline very much ended abruptly

with nessa killing him

and with no real resolution of

deal w the fae to end the pact

, like it just ends!! I know theres a sequel so hopefully that picks it up some.

Otherwise, a good quick story! its definitely brutal in the torturing of the kids but tbh it was so intense you couldnt put it down. Theres tiggering subjects (body horror, a lot of death, etc), but the characters rarely react strongly to it.

Highly recommend the audio book for the authentic irish accent experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Body horror, Torture, Animal death, and Child death

bonepennies's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I loved this book so so much!! It was definitely right up my alley.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

This book is very much not for someone with a weak stomach.

epsyphus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

One of those books that I felt like the author just reached into my brain and plucked out exactly what I wanted in a book and then wrote it. Read it twice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Ableism, Body horror, Death, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cannibalism

noveltay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.0

I am 25 years old and read a teen book, and it was good!! I thought it held my attention pretty strongly through out the book. I do think it was a little predictable who would survive and who would not, but the storyline was still captivating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Suicidal thoughts

ripxw's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror

jenny_librarian's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

This is about as dark as it comes when you talk about faes.

I expected horror, but I didn’t expect that kind of body horror and gore. Some of it is stomach-turning, not for the faint of heart.

The Irish folklore is interesting and very well integrated. It makes you want to learn more about the Sídhe. However, I would have appreciated a glossary or a guide at the end for readers less familiar with the folklore.

One of the unfortunate downsides (and the reason I didn’t round it up to 4 stars) is the amount of misogyny, slut-shaming, ableism and bullying. The incel behaviour of Conor is part of the themes explored (and that ending was delightful), but I’m not sure if those things expressed by other characters was necessary. In any case, it’s something you need to be aware of if you want to read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Torture, and Misogyny

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Islamophobia, Vomit, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide