Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

192 reviews

chelbelle122's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.0

Incredibly lyrical...but not much of a plot to care about. Novellas can suck you in as much as a 400 page book when done well, but sadly, this wasn't it for me. I wanted my first read of spooky season to be a good ghost story, alas, I am disappointed. 

Premise was off to a good start...but that's about it. No good plot twist, not enough tension and story building. Just a lot of angst and meh? 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

elysianbud's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Underwhelming. Feels like it should have been shorter or much longer. Some good spooky moments though. Quick read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

lpltaylor's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

vii67's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

It’s brief, there’s messiness between the characters, once it really gets going it’s swift and horrific.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

It’s a horror book with messy histories between its characters. They go and mess with stuff they probably shouldn’t have messed with because they love going to haunted or supposedly haunted places. There is gruesome material as it plays out.

gondorgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

casparquarius's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I think Cassandra Khaw is one of my favorite contemporary horror writers, between this and Salt Grows Heavy. Khaw's way with language is just so beautiful and memorable, and this story tense and interesting. really enjoyed this

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

ewwa18's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Body horror and Blood

Minor: Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

uncreativeoops's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

This was somehow too aware of its genre. I get that we're all annoyed by horror story protagonists making stupid decisions but these had a few comments too many about being in a haunted house story and what one has to do to not be the first kill.  Being this meta is also kinda a different subgebre of horror than the atmospheric haunted castle Khaw created as a setting and they don't work together. And while I liked the visuals it wasn't particularly scary, especially the ghost didn't have the creeping effect she was supposed to. The characters were a bit thin (though with this length that's basically unavoidable) and the ending felt less ominous and more uninspired. And again one of those instances where the development from characters having regular relationships and conversations to... that climax came out of nowhere and wasn't really believeable. Really enjoyed the overflowy purple prose though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

mreadsbooks's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury