Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

22 reviews

catch__up's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

lc_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

If you loved the Penny Dreadful series, this book is going to satisfy your want for something similar!
Ordinary Monsters took a tight hold of me from the very first page and it would not let go!

 In this gothic, victorian inspired world there are children with extraordinary gifts, primarily with enhanced regenerative cells. For example, there is a boy who can completely heal himself no matter the injury, and another girl can make herself entirely invisible. These children are called The Talents.
Agents hunt down these talents and take them to a British Estate where they learn to control their gifts and are protected from outside forces, especially from one Jacob Marber - a terrific, chilling villain with so much depth and a great past you can't help but love and hate!

J.M. Miro is a world building master. His descriptions of certain places are beautiful and gritty and painful. He's taken inspiration from all your favorites and collided them together successfully. 
Magic school for mutants? Check! Lovecraftian horror? Check! Dickensian conditions? Check!
And the author has taken his time to introduce every character and make you care about them. But don't get too attached because this world is dark and unforgiving. 

All in all this was a great first read from a new author and J.M. Miro might be a new favorite of mine. I look forward to the second book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, and Torture

Minor: Child death, Racism, and Blood

clarabooksit's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Colonisation

ktame001's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, and Child death

longstorysteph's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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 abuse, Death, Gore, and Racism

Minor: Sexual assault

pickupthebook's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

When Ordinary Monsters was voted to be our most recent book club pick, I was hesitant at first - partly due to its size and partly because Victorian-era fantasies aren’t typically my jam. However, I was pleasantly surprised within the first few chapters. I immediately became attached to each of the characters and the situations they were thrown into. I really enjoyed that the “good versus evil” theme wasn’t quite what you expected it to be. I feel like the pacing was a little off in places, and I do think the book could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter. Overall, I still really enjoyed this and will most likely pick up the next book in the series when it comes out!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death and Fire/Fire injury

katieo156's review

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed the story, but this could easily have been two books. There was such a long arc to get to the central setting that I was wearing thin on patience. I'm glad I kept going- I did like the characters and their grit, but I wish we had learned more about the magic and mythology of the book. It was vaguely alluded to and then kind of info dumped, but I feel like there's more left to learn that didn't need to be kept hidden for a sequel. I wondered the whole time if

everyone's instant intense love for Marlowe was part of his powers because it was mentioned so frequently and so soon after anyone met him- guess not.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

saville08's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

 4.5
Extremely long story. Would recommend the Audiobook and do it at 1.85 speed - 2.0 as the narrator takes long breaks, and draws out the words.

Overall was almost a 5-star read, had great characters, an atmosphere, and a great plot. Miro did an excellent job of creating the atmosphere and the setting for this story. He is able to capture the reader and draw them in if you are looking for a cozy long read in a dark setting. The fight scenes are descriptive along with the monsters in this story. The plot kept you motivated and the characters were thought out perfectly.
I am not going to lie the bad guy Jacob was my favorite character as you get to see his development and his power in this novel, along with Alice who finds both of the main characters.

I would give this a shot if you are interested in long drawn-out stories that build a great dark atmosphere setting and characters that are easy to fall in love with.

Trigger Warnings include:
Death, child abuse 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Gaslighting

unboxedjack's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality

Minor: Abortion