Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Leech by Hiron Ennes

8 reviews

ribbenkast's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This book really impressed me with the way it is wirtten, Hiron Ennes really manages to write from the perspective of a super intelegent hivemind and sell it. The world building is amazing and is probably the best part of the book. It's got to be one of the most creative uses of the ghotic genre I've seen so far.

However the books suffers a bit from the gothic pitfall where in the first half it's just vibes and nothing much really happens. The pace really picks up near the ending though! Admittedly I do think the book ends on a bit of a weak note. I think there's space for a sequel I'll gladly pick up if it ever gets published. 

All in all, this was a great debut. I'll be certainly be on the lookout for any books that Hiron Ennes writes in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Body horror, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Ableism, Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Classism, Chronic illness, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Rape

ichewonpushpins's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Alcohol, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Medical content, Sexual violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fatphobia

Horrible Gothic horror brutality told with a dry, clinical tone. This book was a bizarre and shockingly violent ride.

nsaphra's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

5.0

Why isn’t everyone talking about this book?? I’m obsessed, this book is sickening. It’s a gothic horror narrated by a HIVEMIND that controls every doctor in the world. It has all my favorite horror elements:
- body horror
- philosophical “what is the self” horror
- medical paranoia (who’s infected? Every detail feels like foreshadowing)
- unsettling nonhuman perspective

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Violence, Death, Suicide, Body horror, and Chronic illness

tragickore's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Body horror, and Medical content

Moderate: Kidnapping and Forced institutionalization

readmeup's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

Minor: Suicide and Vomit

chris_reads's review

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.25

I haven't read anything quite like this in my life. There were so many interesting concepts (some of which surely went over my head) it was so smart. The writing was delightfully disturbing in its depiction of disease, isolation and the harsh environment. The characters were layered and utterly fascinating. Love what it had to say about parasites, capitalism, power and agency. I can't wait to see what else this author writes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Blood, Death, Slavery, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Misogyny, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

rorikae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

Leech by Hiron Ennes is a speculative horror novel steeped in body horror and with a perfect atmosphere for the winter months. 
We follow a doctor, a member of the Institute, who is heading up into the mountains. One of their colleagues has died and they are seeking answers for their death as well as taking up a position as the doctor at the baron’s Chateau. But when they arrive, they learn that a creeping force is threatening the town and may have directly contributed to their predecessor's death. 
Ennes’ writing is lush and descriptive. They bring you directly into the setting and story and refuse to let you go until the end. Their writing makes the body horror both fascinating and hard to read, which I think is a true mark of a good author. This is a story about possession, agency, and trauma. Set in a post apocalyptic world that gives hints to the world that preceded it, Ennes drops world building moments casually throughout. Though I don’t think more world building was needed to enjoy the story, Ennes has created such an engaging world that I want a full series that explores what happened and what will happen next. The ending was a bit abrupt and I was hoping for a bit more but it also fits the story so I wasn’t unsatisfied. 
I cannot wait for what Ennes writes next because they have proven in 'Leech' that they are a superb horror writer. If you are looking for horror set during the winter months, you must pick up 'Leech.' 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Blood, Body horror, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicide

chessakat's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

WOW was this weird and creepy and alarming and amazing?! The audiobook narrator was outstanding, truly impressive, with so many accents and characterizations. This took me a long time to get through, and I don’t regret the slow listen. I guarantee this is different than anything else you’ve ever read. If you would like to say “what the f—-?” a lot and be confused often but still be dying to know what is going on, take this weird creepy ride.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Infertility, Sexual violence, Child death, Confinement, Rape, Animal death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault