Reviews tagging 'Animal 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

26 reviews

liabetweengames's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, and Cannibalism

drakaina16's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

What a cool anthology! I always love collections in which I can learn about other cultures - not only in day-to-day life, but in legends and folklore. The stories run the gamut from zombies and cryptids, to the supernatural and human monsters. 4.25 stars

Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Door by Ann R. Loverock ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lounge by Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley & Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley ⭐⭐⭐
Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Sila by K.C. Carthew ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Strays by Repo Kempt ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

auntie_maim's review

dark fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Child death

sydneyraereads's review

dark tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston
Content warnings for: harm to a child
Rating: 4

The Door by Ann R. Loverock
Content warnings for: descriptions of blood
Rating: 4

Wheetago War II: Summoners by Richard Van Camp
Content warnings for: harm to children, gore, guns, animal death
Rating: 3

Revenge by Thomas Anguti Johnston
Content warnings for: hunting, animal death, gore, animal attack
Rating: 3.5

Lounge by Sean and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley
Content warnings for: body horror, micro-aggressions
Rating: 4

Utiqtuq by Gayle Kabloona
Content warnings for: guns, pandemic, gore, forced medical care, removal of children
Rating: 3

Sila by K.C. Carthew
Content warnings for: guns, animal attack,

implied infanticide

Rating: 4

The Wildest Game by Jay Bulckaert
Content warnings for: cannibalism
Rating: DNF because cannibalism grosses me out too much

Strays by Repo Kempt
Content warnings for: animal surgery, heart attack, substance abuse, infidelity,

murder

Rating: 4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Gun violence, and Racism

Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

There is implied child death but it isn't on page.

There is a graphic scene of animal surgery. The gun violence is mostly in self-defense rather than conflict between humans. There is a story where prescription drugs are moderately described as an emotional coping mechanism rather than medical treatment.

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

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

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

skeltzer's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

So intrigued with the idea of arctic horror. Some of these short stories were excellent (The Wildest Game stood out - talk about taking clean eating to another level), most were fine and one was a drag (I did not understand Lounge at all).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Forced institutionalization

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

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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