dromedaryreader's reviews
28 reviews

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I really loved this book. My favorite of the year so far. The dialogue is great and the story flows very well. Wasn't a fan of the blog post style writing in a few chapters or else it would be 5 stars. Overall so good and I love that the ending is so open to interpretation that most people disagree about who is really the one at fault. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Too slow of a read. The short stories are mostly good but the rest of the chapters are very hit or miss.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Transphobia, Cannibalism, and Murder

There is a very violent and transphobic story in the book about a woman's group attacking a trans woman. There is also a story that kind of involves child sexual abuse but not really. Could still be very triggering. Just assume most of the stories in this book will be triggering or bother someone with a sensitive stomach.

The Troop by Nick Cutter

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book. Before I even finished it I drove to the nearest bookstore to purchase another book by the same author. The glimpses into the minds of the boys are what really make it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Torture

Minor: Sexual harassment

Parasitic infections that lead to physical and mental illness and

a kid who kills animals for fun

Woom by Duncan Ralston

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I really enjoy how creative this idea is, even when it's kind of gross. I was able to finish it in one sitting and it's definitely not boring. The end was a shock for sure and I can certainly say I haven't seen anything like it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Abortion

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, and Vomit

Minor: Racial slurs

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Very sad story disguised as horror. Unsettling portrayal of abusive relationships through the internet and a descent into severe mental illness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Mental illness

Moderate: Homophobia

Cows by Matthew Stokoe

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.0

As disgusting as promised. Hated reading every minute but couldn't look away for a second. Disappointed that I might never find another book that does quite what this one does.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Fatphobia and Incest

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

challenging sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Slower start then I expected, but when things picked up it was unending. One punch to the gut after another. I know what was coming from the first second but still had the air knocked out of me when I turned to that page.

"She moved her lips. Then smiled.

'I think I'm going to make it,' she said, and reached for Susan's hand. 'I think I'll be fine.'

In the artificial glare of the work light, in the dawn that for us was not a dawn, she died."

I know that this book will stick with me and always leave that lingering stomach ache.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison

dark 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

0.25

A very gross book and not in a shock horror fun way, just in a gag worthy way of things being so over the top the plot gets lost in it. Featuring the most annoying, whiny, misogynistic, necrophiliac main character in history.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fatphobia and Death of parent