Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess

11 reviews

ilaxaria's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Ableism, Blood, Gore, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death

mfrisk's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• 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

3.75

This is a fun and quick slasher read full of gore and technicolor and set with dual timelines in the 80s and present day in a circus themed carnival. This book doesn’t take itself too seriously and doesn’t skimp out on the slasher moments. This book is perfect for a summer horror read and I love the references to horror movie tropes this book discusses and leans into. 

It reminds me a lot of AHS: 1984 and any number of cheesy slasher movies. There is one small twist in here but otherwise this book is a pretty straightforward and fun read so don’t go in with expectations of huge thrills and you should be able to enjoy this popcorn flick of a book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Alcohol, Murder, and Animal death

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Body shaming

ankellogg's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, and Gore

alilbitofmonica's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Gore, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit

cat12345's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Body horror, Death, Violence, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racism, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Body shaming, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

sarithaann's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Vomit

readingsofaslinky's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Gore, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse

toofondofbooks_'s review

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

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

4.0

My rating is not based on the quality of the writing or anything like that. It is based entirely on vibes. This book was a ride from start to finish, it was funny, disgusting, horrifying, and just...camp as hell. This was my second book for summerween, filling my slasher prompt, and what a GOOD choice for that prompt. I have minor issues, but they're just that - minor. The book isn't perfect, but if you take it at face value for what it is: a good time, not deep, then you'll have a good time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, Vomit, Torture, Racism, Gore, and Child death

Moderate: Alcohol and Sexual content

Minor: Fatphobia and Transphobia

ikillsunflowers's review

dark fast-paced

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

4.5

I absolutely loved this. It took some awful horror movie tropes and turned them around. Was absolutely page turner

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Ableism, Misogyny, and Racial slurs

the_grimdragon's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

4.0

"Beware the Cirque on Solstice Night
Nine souls are needed for sacrifice
Behind these gates lay dread and fear
Doomed are those who enter here."

Part of Unnerving Magazine’s Rewind or Die series, Cirque Berserk roller skated into my heart with slashery delight & 80's pop culture references that soared across the neon splattered pages!

Jumping around from the 80's to present-day, Cirque Berserk appears to be a decrepit carnival from the outside, but inside it's home to a group of teenagers who made a dangerous deal 30 years before, one where they will remain their current age forever.

::shudder:: Stay a teenager forever? NO FUCKING THANK YOU!

Neon signs & carousels, haunted houses & roller rinks, rituals & shitbag abusive father's, urban legends & subverted tropes. Needless to say, some gnarly shit happens!

Fucking hell this was good!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Racism