A review by clayby
The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker

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

4.5

The Hellbound Heart, by Clive Barker


No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.

I just finished reading a few minutes ago, and I think my heart's still pumping fast at the time of writing this, haha.

The Hellbound Heart is a well-written, horrific story, filled with gore, interesting lore, and scary, badass, esoteric, inter-dimensional beings. It's a bit on the short side (it's a novella, after all), but boy does it pack a punch. I've loved Hellraiser for a long time, but like my other spooky October read (Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein), I feel like this book ended up being in a league of its own compared to the film/s.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Clive Barker's works, especially those related to The Hellbound Heart, and I hope more people begin to recognize what Mr. Barker has brought to the table.
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