Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

63 reviews

e_riahh's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sav_22's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

I think this was a fun read if you like darker gothic stories. There are many sapphic characters at the focal point which I enjoy seeing in a complex narrative involving almost-vampires. It has its flaws and definitely keeps you on your toes. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

I think the worldbuilding started off strong but

I think it could have used a lot more context, especially with how drinking blood helps vs what happened with Cecilia and how she was drained of youth literally. I also think maybe this could thrive better as a series, as I feel like the end was exciting but ultimately widely open to interpretation on what is next. I think the characters all were promising and I enjoyed the horror aspect, but I would have liked to see a little more back and forth with Marion and the other characters like Mae or the sisters and esp Irene to drive home she’d be willing to give up her desire to belong and have authority. I think what was written was solid but personally I would have liked to see why they would take her word for it and see more conflict with Marion on her desires vs what’s the right decision for their safety. It also would have been interesting if there was maybe a romantic influence for Marion with Irene/another bloodmaid vs with Lisavet to have her struggle defining genuine love and lust. That can be done without another romance too, as I think that’s what her loyalty was meant to show at the end platonically, I just once again feel like more development there could have made the betrayal to Lisavet more fulfilling.

written_in_mold's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a vampire book the way Dracula and Camilla are vampire books. It takes its genre to the base elements, blood, manipulation, power dynamics, and so much more. It is amazing. Every character is complex and you can understand them even if you hate them. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Incest, Infidelity, and Kidnapping

junejunejulyjuly's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

joensign's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent

natspat98's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

crybabybea's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Nothing crazy. Not bad, not amazing. Just a fun, twisty read with some good horror moments.

I wanted a bit more out of pretty much every part of this. For the first time I actually felt like this book was too short to accomplish a really good payoff. For some reason it felt simultaneously way too slow during the beginning and then way too fast at the end. I was especially disappointed by the characters and how quickly the relationships move. Marion was a bit of a confusing character considering her backstory, and Lisavet was almost compelling but just fell a bit short for me. I did enjoy the relationships between Marion and the other girls but still felt like they were quite flat.

The plot itself is interesting and there is just enough mystery threaded through the story that it keeps your interest. I can't say that the twist itself was particularly surprising, but I still enjoyed the journey there and the resolution after. 

There are a couple sapphic moments but the relationship is incredibly imbalanced power-wise and abusive, so don't expect a good time in the average sense of the word :)

The ending gave me Sucker Punch vibes which was cool.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement and Gaslighting

Minor: Incest

Do NOT read this if you have a fear of needles. Also the cat does not die.

brysonsmommie84's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, and Classism

Teeth… loss and detailed pulling of…

author2223's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Drug use and Toxic relationship

klhunter42's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent