Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Les Monstres by Lauren Beukes

9 reviews

mrpetej's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Body horror, Death, Violence, Murder, Blood, Child death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

efurtak49's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Deeper meaning of the book is interesting regarding social media and media in general. Plot line was creative. But the characters were too obnoxious (though I suppose they should have been) that it was hard to get through the book. The ending seems rushed but overall is a decent ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Death, Murder, and Violence

8momo8's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Animal cruelty, Violence, Body horror, and Child death

laurajones's review against another edition

I enjoyed the cleverness of the writing but ended up being too disturbed by some of the content to continue (stalking, general sexual creepiness/misogyny, police violence). I was very interested in the unusual murders and potential supernatural elements but upon reading reviews many said the supernatural elements felt out of place or all shoved in at the end, and that the opening scene was the best part of the "strange murders" storyline. I could also tell it was going to be another story of someone suffering from mental illness being portrayed as violent and "sick" uncontrollable killer, which feels not only unhelpful to the mental health community, but overdone. Simply didn't focus on the plot elements I was hoping it would, and reviews made it sound like it wouldn't in the future.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Car accident, Mental illness, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body horror, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Police brutality

mommarex1221's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Car accident, and Pedophilia

erikajdea'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Sexual assault

herk's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, Bullying, Blood, Body horror, and Animal death

senardade's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Violence

erenrinren's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

I have never read anything by Lauren Beukes, but I have heard of her other novel The Shining Girls. I listened to this book on audio from Overdrive and I'm really pleased I managed to finish it.

Broken Monsters follows the case of the Detroit Monster serial killer, with different points of view. We have the detective, Gabriella Versato, the detective's daughter, Kayla Sterling-Versato, Clayton Brun, Johno Haim, and T.K.. At the beginning there seemed to be a sense that there was no point to these many perspectives, it was tricky to follow and it was very slow-going. However, as the story went forward we learned more and more about these characters personalities and motives.

Gabby, the detective, is a powerful voice and intelligence shines through her character. Although she is flawed, we understand her motive and motherly affection for Layla.

Layla is flawed, she's not perfect and makes mistakes. In the beginning she's almost annoying with her confidence, but she has weak spots and is smarter than she seems. She loves her Mom and her friend, Cass, very dearly.

Clayton Brun is very hard to describe as a character, but his narration is distinct and colourful, which makes you question what is real and what is a dream.

Johno Haim is probably the most annoying in this novel, a guy trying to rebuild his *tragic* life by shooting for fame in the online news game. It seemed he learned nothing throughout this novel, but he was important to have all the same.

T.K. was more of a plot device character as well, although he had importance near the end.

The plot was well developed; there were moments I couldn't predict happening. The writing was beautiful at times, the descriptions very simple yet beautiful. 

Listening to the audio was like giving voice to the imaginings in my head and if you ever get a chance to listen to this audio, I would highly recommend it.

Otherwise the story was good and it opened up doors (pun intended) on conversation about reincarnation, rebirth, religion and the otherworld.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, and Sexual harassment