makabra's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Suicide, and Hate crime
Moderate: Xenophobia and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion
ashthecryptid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Colonisation, Child death, Mental illness, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, and Animal cruelty
rocketdea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia
theskyboi's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Years after hunting on forbidden grounds, four friends find their lives interspersed with paranoia, guilt, and trauma as they begin wondering whether the mysterious elk they see are truly haunting them in the periphery of their seemingly established lives. Taking place mostly on the Blackfeet Reservation and surrounding areas in Montana, the snow-covered ground sets a blank canvas for the fears of each member of the original hunting party. Drawing from Blackfeet and Crow folklore, Stephen Graham Jones' novel is as impactful and greusome as it is pensive and lighthearted.
I won't spoil much of what happens since suspense is a key element of the story, but if you like impactful stories written from a culturally immersive perspective that include elements of male friendships, basketball, creepy elk, and all-around terror, this should be your next read.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Pregnancy, and Violence
keen's review
- 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
A few times, I felt like the book wasn't scary to me. Body horror, paranoia, animal mutilation, been there, done that. Each and every time, after I got comfortable, I'd be thrown off with a punch. And I loved it! Books that make me forget I'm reading a horror book add so much more to the horror. If I'm scared and nervous all the time, the effect will wear off too soon. I've never read a horror story like this either, giving my favorite horror tropes a new twist. If you like body horror mixed with animals, give this book a look.
Reading this book with my friend (who doesn't consume much horror) made the experience so much more enjoyable. We pointed out our ideas on how the book would go, the meanings within the book, and our responses to each scene. I'm excited to go through the Reader's Group Guide with her.
Additionally, Big props to Shaun Taylor-Corbett for such a good audiobook performance. It got to the point where I preferred reading along with the audiobook to reading the book without it. His ability to change his intonation for each character is something to admire. The more I listen to good audiobook performances, the more I wonder what kind of training goes into it. For Taylor-Corbett, his experience as an actor—I actually recognized his voice from the musical In the Heights—must have helped a lot.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Stalking, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Pregnancy and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Excrement, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
emzconklin's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Xenophobia
shonavtj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia
eisenbuns's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Body horror, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Stalking, and Xenophobia
yuna's review
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Xenophobia and Alcoholism
Minor: Ableism