Reviews tagging 'War'

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

8 reviews

foxfic's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A kidnapped and mutilated mermaid gets her revenge on the kingdom that tried to destroy her, and while on the run, builds a relationship with the plague doctor who is her only true ally. Their diverging perspectives are tested when the pair come across a trio of Frankenstein-esque constructs with a village of children in their thrall.

The mermaid is morally gray — she is at her core a monster, and she is unapologetic for her alien perspective towards humanity. This is presented as a strength rather than a flaw. The mermaid is self assured, she can be cruel, she has a long memory, and she’s also unflinchingly loyal.

What could have been a simple revenge story is instead a character study on a pair of unlikely, damaged monstrous companions. It’s at turns gory and filled with poetic prose, which serves very well in illustrating the dual natures of both the mermaid and her plague doctor.

Additionally, I also read the prequel, And In Our Daughters, We Find a Voice. The short story offers more insight into the nature of mermaids, the background of our mermaid’s relationship with her plague doctor, and the kingdom-destroying events which lead up to The Salt Grows Heavy.

It’s free to read online: https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/daughters-find-voice/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Cannibalism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and War

gauriraut's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kelseyr713's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A dark take on mermaid fairy tales, this one features a huge catharsis and beautiful, lyrical prose. I loved the relationship between the mermaid and the plague doctor. Stick around after the acknowledgments for a prequel chapter.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: War

starryfruits's review

dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I just wish there was more 
I love all consuming devotion

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape and War

jmtleaf's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Gorgeous, evocative and absolutely gore soaked. The terror and intimacy of consuming the other. Deep world building that trusts the audience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Specific, explicit and detailed description of medical procedures, entrails, body horror and violence. Main character has been kidnapped and imprisoned and has their teeth and tongue removed

nubiani's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: War

lakinlindsey's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

axel_p's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.5

I would have loved if this where longer.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic