Reviews tagging 'Violence'

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

16 reviews

vixenreader's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

There were four stories I really liked, four stories I loved, and one story I disliked. Either way, I am happy that a text, highlighting various authors from the Arctic, like this one exists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Cannibalism, Stalking, Car accident, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Be aware that these stories involve harsh climates, death by cold weather, child endangerment, helicopter crashes, animal attacks, baby endangerment, hatred towards First Nations, child abduction, mentions of residential schools, animal anatomy, child using weapons, mutations, and the paranormal.

nightlight_reader's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.5

So many of these were really, really good. The first two were my favorite, were completely in line with what I really enjoy about Arctic horror in particular. The second to last one, The Wildest Game, is kinda exactly what you think it’s gonna be and then just rips itself sideways for you in a lightning quick way to give you a last little oomph.

The only one that didn’t really resonate with me was Lounge, but I think it’s a taste thing rather than a quality thing.

These were all super spooky and made for great reads before bed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Cannibalism

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Pandemic/Epidemic

alexalily's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma

Minor: Infidelity, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation

elwirax's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

A really interesting anthology of Arctic horror stories by many Indigenous authors. It was wonderfully constructed, each story was different with a variety of genres, yet, there were common threads like setting and themes which held them together. While I found the plots and lore intriguing, the writing in many of these stories lacked depth, namely in its 'telling' aspect and would've benefited from some more editing. This in turn, failed to illicit the emotions these stories would warrant. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable anthology and from a culture I've never read before.


 

Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston- (3.5/5) 

The Door by Ann. R. Loverok- (3.25/5) 

Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp-  (3/5) 

Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston- (3.5/5) 

Lounge by Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and Rachel Qitsualik- Tinsley-  (3.25/5) 

Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona- (3/5) 

Sila by K.C. Carthew- ( 3/5) 

The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert- (3.5/5) 

Strays by Repo Kempt- (3/5)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Cannibalism

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

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

kalira's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

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

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").

og_tomatogirl's review

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Violence, and Blood

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