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linzis_books's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
kjanie's review against another edition
2.0
2/5 stars
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It is definitely one of the stranger and more unique horror books that I have ever read, and I had fun with the weirder aspects of it. It was truly horrifying and disgusting, with quite a lot of body horror. Because this is a horror book, the fact that I was truly horrified and creeped out is obviously a huge plus. Since this book follows multiple storylines, it was fun to explore how the twisty and horrific series of events connected. Regardless of my gripes I had with the writing and the plot in general (which I will discuss next), it was undeniably entertaining and gripping.
My main issue with this book is the uncomfortable feeling I had about some undertones to the story. I don't know if it was the purpose of the author or not, but it definitely had a very strong anti-abortion feel to it. The 'monstrous' and horrifically malformed fetuses in the story came from women who had aborted their pregnancy. It just felt like a sort of punishment for these women. Additionally, the ghost woman (trying to keep this spoiler free so I won't describe her more) kept saying how all human life was sacred and was punishing people for choosing abortion. I just don't like the idea of a male author writing a book that seems to have such a strong anti-abortion message, although I will reiterate that I am not accusing the author of harbouring these feelings or intending this message, but it was just a feeling I couldn't shake while reading.
Similarly, a lot of the dialogue came across feeling either sexist or mildly racist. It is that kind of grey area in which people debate whether it is okay for characters to say discriminatory things without it reflecting badly on the author. But for me, since it added absolutely nothing to the story and felt completely unnecessary, it just left me feeling uncomfortable. The two main female characters in particular, both Gemma and DS Patel, were treated with many micro-aggressions and underhanded comments. While it felt like the author was not necessarily condoning these comments but rather commenting about the characters that said them, it still felt wholly unnecessary. The dialogue more generally was also just quite difficult to follower. It felt quite stilted and all over the place, which took a while to get used to.
While these negative feelings about the book didn't negate the overall uniqueness and enjoyability of the story, it did leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. I feel like we are at a place in literature in which it is no longer tolerable to have major insensitivities in books, no matter how unique or enjoyable the book itself is.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It is definitely one of the stranger and more unique horror books that I have ever read, and I had fun with the weirder aspects of it. It was truly horrifying and disgusting, with quite a lot of body horror. Because this is a horror book, the fact that I was truly horrified and creeped out is obviously a huge plus. Since this book follows multiple storylines, it was fun to explore how the twisty and horrific series of events connected. Regardless of my gripes I had with the writing and the plot in general (which I will discuss next), it was undeniably entertaining and gripping.
My main issue with this book is the uncomfortable feeling I had about some undertones to the story. I don't know if it was the purpose of the author or not, but it definitely had a very strong anti-abortion feel to it. The 'monstrous' and horrifically malformed fetuses in the story came from women who had aborted their pregnancy. It just felt like a sort of punishment for these women. Additionally, the ghost woman (trying to keep this spoiler free so I won't describe her more) kept saying how all human life was sacred and was punishing people for choosing abortion. I just don't like the idea of a male author writing a book that seems to have such a strong anti-abortion message, although I will reiterate that I am not accusing the author of harbouring these feelings or intending this message, but it was just a feeling I couldn't shake while reading.
Similarly, a lot of the dialogue came across feeling either sexist or mildly racist. It is that kind of grey area in which people debate whether it is okay for characters to say discriminatory things without it reflecting badly on the author. But for me, since it added absolutely nothing to the story and felt completely unnecessary, it just left me feeling uncomfortable. The two main female characters in particular, both Gemma and DS Patel, were treated with many micro-aggressions and underhanded comments. While it felt like the author was not necessarily condoning these comments but rather commenting about the characters that said them, it still felt wholly unnecessary. The dialogue more generally was also just quite difficult to follower. It felt quite stilted and all over the place, which took a while to get used to.
While these negative feelings about the book didn't negate the overall uniqueness and enjoyability of the story, it did leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. I feel like we are at a place in literature in which it is no longer tolerable to have major insensitivities in books, no matter how unique or enjoyable the book itself is.
adora_belle's review against another edition
2.0
This is not a book you will forget. Not because its amazing, not because its terrible but because it is uncomfortable. I would not call this horror by any means. It's a run-of-the-mill detective story wrapped around really gross content, not scary, but GROSS content. I didn't hate it technically, cause I made it through it...begrudgingly. As the story advanced it just became more and more boring and basic in my opinion. To sum it up..A WITCHY WOMAN WANTS ABORTED BABIES FOR THE DEVIL'S ARMY AND THEY WILL LIVE IN A CASTLE MADE OF YOUR POOPIES!
Are you scared? Yeah, me neither.
Are you scared? Yeah, me neither.
myweereads's review against another edition
4.0
“How can anything so horrible be so beautiful?”
Graham Masterton brings this bizarre horror story set within the bowels of London. Expectant mothers who have lost their children are suddenly becoming pregnant again except this time it’s not their child. These children belong to a power mightier than they can imagine and it’s up to supernatural Detectives Jamila and Jerry to investigate.
It is impossible to talk about this book and not give away what happens. The sudden surge in pregnancies is alarming as well as the brutal assault caucused upon the expectant mothers and those who try to help them. The detectives work in a special division where cases that are extraordinary are investigated. It’s up-to them to follow the trail of the bizarre events taking place above ground and also deep within the sewers.
Major themes of this novel include body horror which is quite explicit and I’ll admit even I winced on severely occasions while reading certain scenes! The horror is palpable from page to page and it keeps you wanting to read on. One of the trigger warnings is abortion and child loss so bare that in mind in case you’re thinking of picking this one up.
An overall diverse bizarre horror story which reminded me on occasion of Guillermo Del Torro’s The Strain, Alien and The Witch. Definitely one for fans of horror and Masterton’s work.
Many thanks to Head Of Zeus for sending me a copy.
Graham Masterton brings this bizarre horror story set within the bowels of London. Expectant mothers who have lost their children are suddenly becoming pregnant again except this time it’s not their child. These children belong to a power mightier than they can imagine and it’s up to supernatural Detectives Jamila and Jerry to investigate.
It is impossible to talk about this book and not give away what happens. The sudden surge in pregnancies is alarming as well as the brutal assault caucused upon the expectant mothers and those who try to help them. The detectives work in a special division where cases that are extraordinary are investigated. It’s up-to them to follow the trail of the bizarre events taking place above ground and also deep within the sewers.
Major themes of this novel include body horror which is quite explicit and I’ll admit even I winced on severely occasions while reading certain scenes! The horror is palpable from page to page and it keeps you wanting to read on. One of the trigger warnings is abortion and child loss so bare that in mind in case you’re thinking of picking this one up.
An overall diverse bizarre horror story which reminded me on occasion of Guillermo Del Torro’s The Strain, Alien and The Witch. Definitely one for fans of horror and Masterton’s work.
Many thanks to Head Of Zeus for sending me a copy.
thekiwibibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.0
izzatizahari's review against another edition
1.0
DNF-ed this at Chapter 23. I tried, I really did.
The introduction got me hooked, fast. Sadly, the anticipation died down fast too. The storyline really spurred my paranormal-loving self but something about it was not enough to make me stay.
I was really bothered at how there are too many characters that I sometimes got lost who's who. I also felt like the central issue in the storyline is dragged out unncessarily into 4-5 chapters when it could be reduced to just 1-2 chapters. So the whole time I'd go "Yes, I get it, can we move on??".
And that was that, I can't have anymore of that. I feel so bookishly malnourished and wish to have back the weeks I've spent reading this book. I really do want to like it but I've fallen deeper into reading slump as I progressed into another chapter.
I'm done, so done!
The introduction got me hooked, fast. Sadly, the anticipation died down fast too. The storyline really spurred my paranormal-loving self but something about it was not enough to make me stay.
I was really bothered at how there are too many characters that I sometimes got lost who's who. I also felt like the central issue in the storyline is dragged out unncessarily into 4-5 chapters when it could be reduced to just 1-2 chapters. So the whole time I'd go "Yes, I get it, can we move on??".
And that was that, I can't have anymore of that. I feel so bookishly malnourished and wish to have back the weeks I've spent reading this book. I really do want to like it but I've fallen deeper into reading slump as I progressed into another chapter.
I'm done, so done!
nattly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sky_maris's review against another edition
There's just something about womb horror and horror surrounding birth that I can't do. Was I intrigued? Sure. Was I intrigued enough to sit through something this revolting? Nope.
boundforinfinity's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
An unsettling, squirmish novel that sees lovecraft and asks "but what if it was witches?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Abortion, Body horror, Gore, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Self harm
catsluvcoffee's review
3.0
It's been a long time since a book has gotten under my skin but reading The Children God Forgot, I truly had a moment where I thought "This book is going to give me nightmares." This was a very strange book: deformed fetuses roaming for new wombs to call home, a fatberg blocking the sewer with glowing malformed children taking replacement body parts, and last, but certainly not least, a reanimated witch formed of smoke and vengeance. All of those things individually would be enough of a plotline to carry any horror novel, but together are the things that nightmares are made of.
Told in varying points of view, the plot on this one jumps around. You get just enough action to draw you in and wonder exactly what the hell is going on when it switches to another POV to pick up where it left off before. Typically, I hate this style of writing, but I will say in spite of that it kept my interest, especially when you have the scenes set as they are. There are occult vibes, police procedural, heavy body horror, and of course, the paranormal.
I do have to wonder though, as a woman, if this book weighs as heavily on male readers. I would imagine it doesn't. There's a particular horror in simply being a woman and having fears that are unique to the female persuasion alone. The fear of reproduction, of growing a life that is abominable instead of the perfect being it should be, and the fear of being violated. I struggle with that last word because what truly happens here, under other descriptions is rape. Not in the usual sense, but by one of the aborted creatures crawling or attempting to crawl inside another woman's uterus to continue to incubate. See what I mean by horrifying?
There are also some sociopolitical themes here that are played a bit heavy-handed. The entire novel could be a statement on abortion. Not only do you have the many-limbed but cherub-faced fetus being terminated before term, but there's the woman showing up to punish those who participated in the terminations stating that all life is sacred. I feel like this book should have been written decades ago when racism and homophobia were casual and women were written based on the size of their breasts.
I ended up very conflicted about this novel. In the beginning, it was extremely effective horror. It's definitely a horror that relies on the reader's revulsion over Somewhere in the middle, the momentum of the plot starting lagging. From that point on, it was a rush to the ending, curt and to the point, without a lot of explanation. This is one of those novels that is either going to leave you checking the sheets before getting in the bed or leave you apathetic but one thing is for certain, some of these scenes will continue to play in your head long after you've closed the book.
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