Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

15 reviews

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

msradiosilence's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

regans's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Miscarriage

mermaidsherbet's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

rorikae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

'The Salt Grows Heavy' by Cassandra Khaw is a retelling/continuation of the classic Little Mermaid story but with a focus on horror. 
The story follows a mermaid who has recently been freed from the clutches of her husband and set out into the world with a plague doctor as her companion. When they come across a group of children playing a horrific game, they are pulled into the workings of a small community that will reveal more about each of their past experiences.
Khaw writes in a decadent, evocative voice that drips off the page. This is definitely a novella that is steeped in language and I know that probably won't be to everyone's taste. It was definitely to mine. Their word usage and descriptions brought me directly into the story, especially moments of body horror. It's important to go into this book knowing that it is full of gore with lots of body horror and a touch of close to cannibalism. Through their reworking of the classic Little Mermaid tale, Khaw explores the horrors behind being forced to give up a part of yourself and how to regain that later in life. I've had hit or miss experiences with Khaw's writing in the past but this is definitely a hit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, and Murder