Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim

4 reviews

empathreads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

A lot of events unfolded throughout the novel, which was overwhelming, but it was understandable from the fact that the author had a desired flow of action for its characters. There was this push and pull manner that can end up frustrating readers as there are various challenges being faced by the heroine, one of which the other voice, as the demon inside Maia, really evokes that temptation to pull her on the evil side. In trailing for the last chapters of the book, there was still that confusion tugging at the character, making you choose between good and evil. Though I appreciated how the story ended with her troubles not solved just on her own but with the involvement of those she loved and has loved, it spoke of fairytales and myths, and it spoke of life and the ordinary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, and War

matheo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Body horror, Death, Gore, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

hanarama's review against another edition

adventurous 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

1.5

The Good: 

• Fairytale, mythology inspired. 
• Learn more about side characters. 

The Bad:

• Very tell vs show. 
• Stagnate main characters.
• Stale romance. 
• Stakes don't feel high. 

You Might Like this if You Like: 

• Descent into darkness plots.
• Asian-inspired settings and mythologies. 

I'm honestly so disappointed in this book. I liked Spin the Dawn alright. It didn't blow me away, but it was a nice, fairytale-esque ya. This sequel was a major downgrade. 

To start, this is supposed to be a darker and edgier sequel where main character Maia grapples with her slow transformation into a demon. What should be exciting and introspective is anything but when all we get is Maia rehashing the same thoughts over and over and shunning anyone that tries to help her. The love interest Edan is reduced to a cheerleader, basically just saying how much he loves Maia and then sitting on the sidelines, which is a shame because they behaved like a team in the first book. 

Unlike the first book which was naturally broken up into three distinct parts, this book feels more like a list of chores being checked off a list. Every issue has Maia come in and take care of it in a chapter or two while bemoaning her transformation. 

Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is Lady Sarnai, but it feels as though she's been all but dropped by Lim until the last quarter of the story. 

Overall, very different from Spin the Dawn and a disappointment. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Death

water_violin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Xenophobia