Reviews tagging 'Classism'

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

51 reviews

bcvogel90's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Chronic illness, Classism, and Blood

Moderate: Gore, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Drug use

hehkhatea's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

You mean to tell me in a noble house run by Vampire Butch Lesbian Supreme where blood drinking is an everyday occurrence that there was not one single instance of menstrual blood being drunk/eaten? WACK.

Really liked this book overall. Wasn’t sure what I was getting into but once I realized Lisavet was based on Elizabeth Bathory the jig was up. I think if you were unfamiliar with her or other classic literature naming conventions the twists might be more shocking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Addiction, Blood, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Classism, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Slavery

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Medical content

dimlymad's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But the characters lacked so much depth, that in the end, they just felt bland, to me.
The narrative drove at a nice pace, with an interesting premise, hence the almost 3 star rating.

The significance given to the word "wretch" through the book, was so much, that I expected a fully developed arch around it. The payoff ended up being a disappointment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction

Moderate: Animal death and Violence

that_guy_bo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Many of the reviews I'd read about this book focused heavily on the sapphic elements, so as a gay man, I wasn't sure if this one was "for me." But, the blurb had intrigued me, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
 And I have to say, this was one of the most gripping books I've ever read!

 I've raved about it to anyone and everyone at every possible opportunity, because it really doesn't matter what your sexual orientation is, this is an entrancing book.

  The scenery is dripping with every possible luxury, which makes the slowly mounting horror of the story stand that much starker against the decadent backdrop.

Additionally, as a huge fan of vampires, while this isn't technically a vampire story, it has all the trappings of one, and it certainly has the atmosphere! So if you're a fan of vampires, you'll very likely love this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Addiction

Minor: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Incest, Classism, and Chronic illness

mossmogs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Vampires, but actually and definitely not. Sapphic fantasy, y’all. Never disappoints. 
(this is actually a bit more not-so-supernatural, but still hella mystical)

I loved the pacing, the descriptions, ESPECIALLY OF THE FOOOOD, the characters (yes even the shit ones) and it’s mainly just bc the author is a wonderful story teller and her writing is so easy to follow and become swept up in. This was much different than I thought it was going to be and I mean that in the best way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Drug use and Classism

lovesit1892's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed this book, it was mysterious enough to hold my attention, but the writing and plot felt quite basic and young. Given the subject matter, I think it could have been written a bit grittier; if we're already on the topic of creepy, blood-drinking royals, then we might as well take it all the way there. Also, more explanation of the North and the South and the history of why these people consumed blood was just glossed over and farfetched. Just make them actual vampires!?

The relationships feel immature and rushed. I feel like the dynamics between the characters could have been explored more, to make the suddenly deep development seem more realistic. 

If you're looking for sapphic vampires (which I always am!) it's a slightly different take on the trope and an easy, casual read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Torture, and Death

Minor: Sexual content and Confinement

bookycnidaria's review against another edition

dark fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Classism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Toxic relationship

scifi_rat's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

Plot: 3.5★
Prose: 3.75★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4★/3.75★
Characters: 3.5★
Worldbuilding: 3.75★
Ending: 3.5★

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Blood

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Classism, Murder, Physical abuse, Cursing, Self harm, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Chronic illness, Torture, Mental illness, Sexual content, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Gore

Minor: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Animal death, and Child abuse

jasper_is_atypical's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Grief, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Self harm, Animal death, Cannibalism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Body horror, Bullying, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content

Moderate: Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent and Incest

archaicrobin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I have a very unpopular opinion here, I know tons of people love this book and it is beautifully written but the plot dragged on in my opinion and I honestly wasn’t that invested in any of the characters which made it even more of a slog for me. 

Based on the real Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, Marion is a new blood maid for the House of Hunger where girls are bled for the wealthy nobles to drink. She’s not only a blood maid, but blood maid to one of the most hungry and insatiable of nobles Lisavet.

This is the second book I’ve read by Henderson that fell flat for me. I had read Year of the Witching previously and had the same problems with plot and characters. While her writing is very atmospheric and lyrical, her plots and romance all come off as stale or slow to me. House of Hunger started off great, I was invested in the story and curious as to where it would go but once Marion arrives at the castle it all just slows down. The focus shifts to the relationship between Lisavet and Marion, and it turns from a horror novel into some weird toxic romance. 

Romance is not my thing, I don’t read it, I don’t pursue it, and I don’t mind it as a subplot if it’s well done, but in House of Hunger the relationship was so abusive and toxic from the start I never got behind it. Unfortunately, a huge chunk of the book is just Marion and Lisavet in the castle bleeding for each other and shooting boar, not really interesting to me. 

By the time the plot picks up again, the story goes in to hyper speed and then it’s over, the pacing is not the best. Also, If you know the history of Elizabeth Bathory the twist is not a shock to you, which again probably ruined some of the intrigue for me since I’m a huge history buff and was probably unhealthily obsessed with Bathory as a child so this story was just a miss overall for me.

I can definitely see why so many people love this, it’s dark paranormal romance with gorgeous prose and a bloody story but it’s not what I’m looking for in my own reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism, and Death