Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

5 reviews

phantomgecko's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

3.0

A book about a haunted house that focuses on the mental trauma of the situation and not as much as the how and the why.

Your questions will not be answered. It's not about that.

I am reminded slightly of the movie Oculus (one of my favorites) just in the way

you can't be sure if it's real or not. Is the house actually haunted? Are these people just unwell? Like...probably they're being terrorized by the supernatural, but mayyyyyybe, just maybe it's in their heads.

And I love that for this book.

While the relationship obviously has some rough bits, this book depicts a married couple that actually cares about each other, which is nice to see.

Overall though, it just didn't do it for me. It's great, well written, interesting. I don't not recommend it, and I wouldn't buy it or read it again.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

j0n13e's review

dark emotional 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

5.0

Well wow. This book from the start is already intriguing in its own kind of immediate foreshadowing way. The character portrayal and down to earth real emotions are expressed very well. The thoughts and raw expressions between the two main perpesctives are engaging and 

Satisfying.

.

I feel like the book touched perfectly on the already horror concept of the haunted house prospect very well. As well as it did with satisfying my horror portion, it gave many very real and emotional interactions between a couple and their trying to keep a relationship lasting with all of the horrors around them, continuing to worsen and become more disturbing.

.

The disturbing scenes and words that come out of the characters true colors as the book goes on are gut-wrenching. The beginning to turn on one another and spiraling down into madness makes you want to see what’s next, makes you want to know more. I really enjoyed this book and it was one of the very few that have made me feel uneasy in my own room.

—

= 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄:

 “There is no acceptable, untainted name for wilderness of the mind. People will always wander what to believe. They expect the stay inaccuracies to be looted out and abandoned. They expect the minds voice to only unstitch when alone. 

When the seam rips, they look away.”

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Blood, Body horror, and Gore

ash_ton's review

2.75

similar to the haunting of hill house. i'm sure a lot of inspiration was pulled from there. i want more from this book. i feel like things weren't completely answered/thought through. too many loose ends/confusing things.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Body horror

Moderate: Child death, Addiction, Gaslighting, and Medical content

Minor: Suicide attempt

traa's review

dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Dementia, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Murder, Sexual violence, Vomit, Cancer, Fatphobia, Violence, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

cady_sass's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.0

I want to like this, really, but it just makes no sense. It’s clear that’s the intention but how do you write a novel with this many subplots and resolve literally none of them? I’m invested, I finished the book, and it’s so dissatisfying. What did I read? I have no idea. What’s the point? I have no idea. Does the author know? Does anyone know? I’m not mad, I’m disappointed. *shrug* 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content