Reviews

Books of Blood: Volume One by Clive Barker

samjoc's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.5

malachikana's review against another edition

4.0

Some of the stories fell kind of flat for me personally, but the ones that stood out, REALLY stood out. The pig one and the midnight meat train specifically finally made me feel unease I haven't felt in a while while reading horror. I'm excited to check out the Hulu show, the movie, and the other five volumes in this book series!

cristian_m's review against another edition

4.0

- solid horror short story collection
- the ideas and concepts are pretty wild and engaging
- the world-building and the ideas are not "explained" or part of a coherent whole (or mythology, a la Lovecraft)
- the prose and voice are seductive and alluring
- the perspective of the narrator shifts some times to objective, breaking immersion into the characters

soniek's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

ttl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

breakery's review

4.0

a cohesive, consistent collection! very pleased w my first step into barker's works; the languid writing style presented such a subtle lucidity among the reality-warping and gut-churning scenarios.. ohh psychosexual body horror you will always have my back

my favorite of the collection was probably "sex, death and star shine" !

alexandraslagle's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Not especially scary, but unnerving. Definitely very weird and eerie. I wish it had actually scared me, but the stories were extremely well written and creative! Definitely going to check the other volumes out!

laytongraph's review against another edition

4.0

Clive Barker is my favorite writer.

elsjefiederelsje's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

jevinjj's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0