maddognews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Murder
booksthatburn'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
Khaw's style has clearly developed more since HAMMERS ON BONE (also excellent), and this is less of a romp than THE ALL-CONSUMING WORLD. It has their willingness to just let a story be bleak without being depressing, finding hope interwoven with death, plus a strange interlude into cult deprogramming. It is specifically a follow up to one of the stories from the collection BREAKABLE THINGS, called "And in Our Daughters, We Find a Voice". That story is included in the back of THE SALT GROWS HEAVY for anyone who needs a refresher.
THE SALT GROWS HEAVY is a truly excellent piece of horror. I’m very glad I read it. I hope you like it too.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Gore, Violence, Child abuse, Medical content, Child death, Death, Torture, Blood, Body horror, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Grief, Sexism, Vomit, Confinement, and Animal death
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, and Miscarriage
"And in Our Daughters, We Find a Voice" - Graphic CW for blood, gore, death. Moderate CW for toxic relationship, confinement, pregnancy, miscarriage, violence, cannibalism.wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Kidnapping, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Gore, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Medical trauma
msradiosilence's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Torture, and Toxic relationship
regans's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Toxic relationship, Death, Torture, Body horror, Medical trauma, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Miscarriage
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Medical content, Child death, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The story follows a mermaid who has recently been freed from the clutches of her husband and set out into the world with a plague doctor as her companion. When they come across a group of children playing a horrific game, they are pulled into the workings of a small community that will reveal more about each of their past experiences.
Khaw writes in a decadent, evocative voice that drips off the page. This is definitely a novella that is steeped in language and I know that probably won't be to everyone's taste. It was definitely to mine. Their word usage and descriptions brought me directly into the story, especially moments of body horror. It's important to go into this book knowing that it is full of gore with lots of body horror and a touch of close to cannibalism. Through their reworking of the classic Little Mermaid tale, Khaw explores the horrors behind being forced to give up a part of yourself and how to regain that later in life. I've had hit or miss experiences with Khaw's writing in the past but this is definitely a hit.
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, and Child death