Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Leech by Hiron Ennes

50 reviews

cold_boy's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I adored this book. I never would have thought a Victorian Gothic horror could ever mesh with post-apocalyptic sci-fi, yet here we are. The story and the world are so meaty and dense and bizarre. Having read quite a bit of sci-fi, I can say Ennes is a master of introducing elements of a world in a way that doesn't feel jarring, and fully explaining the elements without it breaking the pacing or making it feel like the author is personally explaining the world to the audience. 

This is the horror novel I've been craving for a very long time.

Bonus audiobook narration review: I didn't realize Abigail Thorn was the narrator until I hit play, which was a pleasant surprise but I worried my familiarity with her work would distract me from the narration. Fortunately that wasn't a problem, and she absolutely embodied the characters (especially our nameless protagonist). While sometimes she came across as a bit inexperienced, I hope she keeps doing narration, because she has a very expressive and unique voice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

ofbooksandechos's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Genocide and Alcohol

CW: loss of body autonomy, dissociation and PTSD

lanid's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

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

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

Minor: Suicide and Vomit

theafictionado's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

Gross - but in a very effective way! This is a distressing but very powerful book, using freaky sci-fi parasites to open an exploration of the many ways people can "leech" off one another and rob people of their bodily autonomy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Ableism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

hollyko's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

sphinxofblackquartz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Chronic illness and Alcohol

aetherkids's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child death

annir's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

catwhisperer's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail