Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

6 reviews

mandersdraws's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.5

Ugh I need to read it again!! I feel like Hemlock Queen gets off to a sluggish (and maybe a little depressing) start, with the protagonist taking a passive role for a few chapters, but the action and tension really ramped up quickly. It wove a bunch of loose threads together from the first book into an intricate and rich tapestry, and it gave me even more ancient mysteries to think on while I wait for the next one!

I really love how the protagonist’s powers and relationship to the religion of the world allows us to peek into the ancient past. I love how it explores the fallibility of people, and of divine figures. I love that it calls into question the motives of the people writing our laws, our bibles.

And oh, I really fucking love the tragic romance. (I especially love the very real possibility of a “completed” love triangle here, my new One True Threesome). I love how tender some of the spicy scenes are. This shit is right up my alley!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Violence, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Misogyny, Colonisation, Rape, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and War

Mental illness tag because while it’s related to the fantasy elements of the book, the protagonist hears voices. That and possession are big topics of the book. Also warning for dissociation.

maddiementions's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cursing, Body horror, Gore, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Animal death

Moderate: Classism

dani_reis's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

This felt like a version of the book Illborn but with different focuses. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Body horror, Medical trauma, Confinement, and Murder

Minor: Death

chaptermaggot's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Classism, Rape, Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, and War

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, War, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Drug use, Torture, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement

chelseanaylor's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I just wrote a long review and Goodreads didn't save it...long and short: 

Gabe is deeply unlikable and I can't buy into the poly love Whitten is trying so hard to make. I guess others are feeling it but Gabe x Lore feels forced; he's so judgmental and rigid and Lore deserves gentleness, fun, and kindness. Gabe x Bastian....i don't even see...Whitten has only described how much they dislike and distrust one another but then says they love each other. For me, the plot that would bring the three of them together has felt like she's telling and not showing the reader. Now-- Lore x Bastian is amazing. They balance each other and provide things for the other they want/need. 

Regardless, the emphasis constantly being placed on Lore's dilemma of loving them both makes the stakes of the plot hard to buy into. I can't focus on anything else when the plot is constantly cutting to Lore's monologue about loving them both. I also think her own development and personhood is hindered by Bastian and Gabe-- the talk down or around her, make decisions for her, exclude her, and have also made her an object in the "fight" between them. 

I don't know if I'll read book 3, especially if there are Gabe chapters. 

In terms of writing, Whitten uses too many repeating phrases/descriptors. I don't think there's a single instance when Gabe is mentioned that his one eye isn't described. Val's sea glass beads. Lore twists her ring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Murder, and Body horror