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opossumble's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Now THIS is the most romantic I ever want horror to be. I really loved this story. It’s thoughtful and sentimental and sad and gross!!!! The body horror is outrageous. I loved every second of it. And the connection to the sea!!!! Ugh. I just love the ocean. The atmosphere in this was just superb. There was a couple of aspects I found a little ridiculous but it didn’t pull me out of the story. I would really not be surprised if this is made into a movie soon (a24 is my hope but my luck is a Hulu original).
I am just so happy that this was the 100th book I read this year!!!! 🥹🖤
p.s. I’ve never read a monsterfucker book but I think this falls in the category somehow— but in the most chill way if that makes sense? Like it’s not a monsterfucker book but it has monsterfucker elements. At least questionable ones for me.Like, he’s for sure a monster and she absolutely fucks him. But he’s human when they have sex (specifically in a human suit of her dead husband). Like I think that counts, right?? Either way, I respect it. Get it, Muriel.
I am just so happy that this was the 100th book I read this year!!!! 🥹🖤
p.s. I’ve never read a monsterfucker book but I think this falls in the category somehow— but in the most chill way if that makes sense? Like it’s not a monsterfucker book but it has monsterfucker elements. At least questionable ones for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
•Ageism is prevalent •monsterfucker elements, I’m not an expertrheam1224's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
(from Goodreads review)
I really did not know what I expected when I got into this book, but I finished it feeling very warm. It makes me laugh, knowing that on my Kindle it says "The Haar: A Horror Novel" because yes, sometimes I had to remind myself that this was indeed horror. Muriel was a fantastic, sympathetic character despite all the wild shit she does or tries to reason out in order to keep seeing "Billy"/Avalon. I love the fact that she was an old heroine, in charge of herself and having some deeper complexities beyond even the story. I couldn't stop thinking about this story being made into a movie and finding joy in knowing that the comedy and horror would be so interwoven because isn't that life? (I mean besides a sea creature literally melting you into goop in order to eat you from the outside in . . .)
Anyway, what a charming read!
I really did not know what I expected when I got into this book, but I finished it feeling very warm. It makes me laugh, knowing that on my Kindle it says "The Haar: A Horror Novel" because yes, sometimes I had to remind myself that this was indeed horror. Muriel was a fantastic, sympathetic character despite all the wild shit she does or tries to reason out in order to keep seeing "Billy"/Avalon. I love the fact that she was an old heroine, in charge of herself and having some deeper complexities beyond even the story. I couldn't stop thinking about this story being made into a movie and finding joy in knowing that the comedy and horror would be so interwoven because isn't that life? (I mean besides a sea creature literally melting you into goop in order to eat you from the outside in . . .)
Anyway, what a charming read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
After hearing about this book online from a few influencers, I was intrigued by the plot. It is definitely bizarre and darkly hilarious with a beautiful message at the end.
I did find the antagonist, Patrick Grant, to be a bit 2-dimensional, so the kills didn’t feel as scary as one could expect as you were generally cheering for the monster. While that can be great for some, I definitely enjoy more intriguing bad guys.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in indie horror or Scottish folk tales. There is also some great dark humor.
I did find the antagonist, Patrick Grant, to be a bit 2-dimensional, so the kills didn’t feel as scary as one could expect as you were generally cheering for the monster. While that can be great for some, I definitely enjoy more intriguing bad guys.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in indie horror or Scottish folk tales. There is also some great dark humor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Classism
Anything you may expect from a gory slasher film is likely described here.mlovesbooks's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
Elder abuseraybudbury's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Loved this one a lot. Very heartwarming and charming for how gnarly the horror/gore was.
I think this is a great example of an excellent horror story imo. Horror seems to be the hardest genre to write/direct. It’s hard to pace, it’s hard to make text/visuals scary, etc.
This one is great because it uses both humour and heart to balance out the gore and horror of the situation. + it’s more like…. Is this monster really the bad guy in this situation or is it the big corporation that destroyed this small Scottish town to blame for the carnage anyway loved it.
I think this is a great example of an excellent horror story imo. Horror seems to be the hardest genre to write/direct. It’s hard to pace, it’s hard to make text/visuals scary, etc.
This one is great because it uses both humour and heart to balance out the gore and horror of the situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
boogi29's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Shape of Water meets The Thing.
An honestly incredible blood soaked love story. I can’t lie and say I was expecting this when I started it, but I am so glad that this was the direction it took.
In addition to that, this has some of the most stomach churning gore I’ve ever read. There have been very few times a book has been able to make me squeamish, but man oh man did this get under my skin. Sodergren has an incredible way of writing violence and gore that few authors can match. The ability to balance that with a legitimately charming love story is a crazy combination that I cannot believe works.
An honestly incredible blood soaked love story. I can’t lie and say I was expecting this when I started it, but I am so glad that this was the direction it took.
In addition to that, this has some of the most stomach churning gore I’ve ever read. There have been very few times a book has been able to make me squeamish, but man oh man did this get under my skin. Sodergren has an incredible way of writing violence and gore that few authors can match. The ability to balance that with a legitimately charming love story is a crazy combination that I cannot believe works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, and Murder
crisscrossedshelves's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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: Body horror, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
midnightgremlin's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
goldenpumpkin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was hoping to like this more than I did. The dialog was really weak and at sometimes cringe. You could really tell when the author wrote something he struggles with (dialog) and when he was enjoying himself (the horror sections). Unfortunately I didn't really connect with any of the characters, but it was nice to have an elderly woman as the protagonist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood