Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

In The Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland

21 reviews

maxgdy's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Vomit, Body horror, Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

andromeda_1998's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-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

5.0

I really enjoyed the ravenous dark, it’s an amazing book! These are the reasons I loved it: 

Characters 
I really enjoyed the characters some of theme are precious little beans that should be protected others are plain evil. The writer navigates these extremes with ease and really shows off her talent of writing multidimensional characters. 

Plot 
The plot is a bit well predictable, and this sounds weird, in a good way. It’s a real fantasy with a girl finding out that she had magical powers and now she has to save the world but in a gothic kind of way. 

The plot is dark and before you decide to pick this book up you need to check the triggerwarnings. The writer doesn’t shy away from harsh subjects so be safe. 

Writingstyle 
This book is fast paced and I would consider it to be an easy read. It’s a book to finish in one setting and while I did precisely that. Did I finish it at around 2 in the morning? Yes… do I regret it? No…. Who needs sleep anyways? 

Recommendations 
Yes I would for sure recommend this book. I just don’t really know to whom. I think readers who are looking for a darker story with a pansexual polyamorous main character would really enjoy this one.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Violence

courtnoodles's review

dark mysterious

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

2.0

Points awarded for a sharp as nails main character, witty dialogue, and incredible mainstream LGBT rep. Including but not limited to:
- pansexual mc
- lesbian li
- male and female love interests for the mc
- nonbinary ace sc
-

Spoiler

m/f/f polyamorous relationship

Points taken for:
- Literally everything else

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Vomit

rorikae's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

'In the Ravenous Dark' is a deliciously dark story that celebrates queerness. 
It centers on Rovan, a bloodmage in the city of Thanopolis, who has been hiding her powers ever since her father was killed. When she discovers that her father's death wasn't quite what she thought and her powers are discovered, she is forced to come to the palace to be bound to a shade. As she learns more about the bloodmages and the world that surrounds her, all while also falling for a princess, she begins to question what is going on in the world and how she can free herself. 
A.M. Strickland creates a decadent world wrapped up with intriguing characters and a fascinating magic system. Their extravagant writing matches with the gaudy setting, all while creating a captivating story. Two of the things that stand out the most to me are the characters and the writing. Strickland's world comes to life under her lush prose that provides great detail in a world that is dripping with intricacies. Settled down into this world are characters, some that you love, some that you hate, and others that you may not like but still care deeply for. Rovan is a complex and flawed heroine but I never once stopped liking her, even when the story got especially dark. The queer love stories and the polyamory were perfectly matched to the world. 
The only hiccup is that there were some moments where the love stories felt like they moved a bit too quickly though this didn't bother me a great deal. Strickland has created such great characters and the bonds of friendship and family are so strong that things moving too quickly only barely caught my attention. This is such a great book though incredibly dark. I will definitely be picking up more of Strickland's writing. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, and Suicide

achingallover's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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? Yes

1.0

Really stuck how to rate this. 

First 2/3 the characters were inconsistent, shallow and annoying.

Last 1/3 the plot was really interesting, fast paced, with super cool magic. But still didn't make much sense.

It's almost like the last 1/3 was a different book.

Japha was the only good character, and they weren't developed well.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit

mhs_197's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Minor: Body horror, Rape, and Suicide

wrenxavier's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? N/A

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Kidnapping and Suicide

kaseybereading's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, Death, and Cursing

Minor: Body horror

sageleafpark's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Body horror

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing for the e-arc of this book.

Rovan has been hiding the fact that she is a bloodmage her whole life--ever since she watched her father die for being one. Bloodmages are surrounded by death and forced to work for Theopolis, and Rovan will do anything she can to avoid that life...except letting her friend die. When she reveals she is a bloodmage, she is forced to the palace to except a bloodline and a life she wants no part of, and is beset with a Guardian--a spirit that seems to be more there to guard others from her than her from them.   But there is something else going on in the city, causing the world-wide blight, and it stinks of death. Rovan will risk her own life to find out what it is. 

I was all in on the premise of this book: the bloodmage, reluctant hero, secret plots and royal intrigue! The setting is also really interesting and I was so curious to find out what was causing the blight.  There are a lot of twists and reveals that I didn't see coming, and I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire time! I really love the plot.

The queer rep in this book is also amazing! Rovan is pansexual and polyamorous.  There is a main character who is nonbinary panromantic-asexual, and lots of other queer characters.  I thought it was all well-done and was glad that it wasn't looked down on in this world (as long as characters still reproduced, that is).

The only real complaint I had with this book (and not much of one) is that I didn't really feel the connection between Rovan and her love interests until...very far into the book.  I didn't think the chemistry between them was that great and it seemed like much more of a visual-only attraction for a long time. It did get better though!

The found family element made me want to cry. So precious.  Definitely get this book!

Pub Date: May 18, 2021

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit