Reviews tagging 'Blood'

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth

36 reviews

archaicrobin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

White Horse is a creepy mystery with indigenous folklore, family secrets, and some drama. I really enjoyed the unique voice in this novel and the supernatural elements were truly eerie. However, there were several subplots in this one that felt unnecessary and forced, like they were thrown in to meet page count or something. This is made the second half of the novel a slog for me to get through and I felt like the twist was very obvious. 

If you’re a horror fan or want to read more indigenous fiction I would definitely recommend White Horse, but if you’re looking for something ground breaking or truly terrifying look elsewhere.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Grief, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Violence, Alcohol, and Blood

imstephtacular's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Violence, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Body horror, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Blood, Gun violence, Gore, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Child abuse, and Cursing

Minor: War, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Vomit, and Pregnancy

lauramparis's review

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Addiction, Child abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Drug abuse

bookishcori's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse and Murder

magneto's review

dark mysterious reflective 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

3.5

This was a tough one to rate. There were elements of this story I really enjoyed which made for a quick, engrossing read however there were other aspects that were so frustrating to sit through. The constant complaining denial of the supernatural, mentions of Metallica and David Mustaine, her cousin's controlling husband - these happened so often it was tedious to read, you could start taking shots when they're mentioned and pass out drunk before finishing the book. However, the story itself was interesting and made me keep reading in the span of a couple sittings to find out the key to the mystery. Unfortunately, this wrapped up rather quickly and the epilogue put a neat bow on everything in a rushed manner. I'll never begrudge a character a happy ending but the pacing made it feel off. This also barely felt like a horror novel, more a dark supernatural mystery centering a theme of grief and discovery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content

bahyreads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

White Horse by Erika Wurth follows the main character Kari on a journey of grief and generational trauma. Kari is 35 and surviving rather than living because of her unresolved trauma from the disappearance of her mother and the death of her childhood best friend. After her cousin gives her a bracelet that connects her to her mother, Kari begins to unravel what happened to her mother and finally process her emotions and trauma. 
The narrator,  Tonantzin Carmelo, brought life to the story. While listening to the audiobook the characters felt distinct. The writing and narration went well together.



 
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Incest, Sexual assault, and Cultural appropriation