Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories by Thomas Anguti Johnston, Cara Bryant, Gayle Kabloona, Ann R. Loverock, K.C. Carthew, Repo Kempt, Jay Bulckaert, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Aviaq Johnston, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley

12 reviews

auntie_maim's review

dark fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Child death

mirlambda's review

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Medical content, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

illtakethenightshiftx's review

dark tense

3.0

I was super excited when I read the back of this and grabbed it a few months ago - horror written by indigenous folks set in a remote place? Checks a LOT of boxes for me!!

As with most short story anthologies, the stories are a really hit or miss. For folks who like ‘winter/snow/Arctic horror’ (“winter” feels reductive because all of the stories are so different, but that’s the common thread between them), I definitely recommend this. All of these could be considered horror, save for “Lounge,” which is darker sci-fi with horror elements.

Overall, it was a strong collection and there are a few authors who I think I’ll read further, but the collection as a whole didn’t totally hit for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Child death

daisytracey's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Murder

starrysteph's review

challenging dark 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? Yes

3.0

I love picking up short story collections as a way to discover a batch of new-to-me writers all at once - and Taaqtumi did not disappoint. 

There were some excellent & unique pieces here; stories that were chilling to the bone and incorporated crystal-clear haunting imagery and atmospheric terror. The Arctic is the perfect place for horror.

I did find the writing to be a bit uneven, with some stories brilliantly executed and others needing more support. Some of the weaker links were too long and/or had unsteady pacing.

Some stories leaned hard into horror, while others I would possibly classify elsewhere. Every story had at least some uneasy elements, but if you’re looking to be scared out of your mind, this collection overall doesn’t quite offer that. However, it is eclectic and interesting - so I think every reader would connect with at least one piece!

Many of these pieces will stick with me for sure. My personal favorites (though hard to pick!) were Revenge, Utiqtuq, and The Wildest Game.

CW: death (incl. death of children), murder, animal death, animal cruelty, cannibalism, violence, gore, colonization, body horror, medical content, gun violence, grief, vomit, ableism, racism

Follow me on TikTok for book recommendations!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Racism, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Miscarriage, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Illness, pandemic, needles ("Utiqtuq").

onemamareads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

booksnbones13's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• 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

multiple of these stories gave me CHILLS; a good horror anthology with unique premises and a range of genres/styles

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

beholderess's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

Loved some stories, did not connect with others, such is the nature of anthologies. 
More sci for than I’ve expected 
And more animal death than I’m comfortable with 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Child death and Cannibalism

rosaelise's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Cursing