Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

16 reviews

maddiereadswords's review against another edition

3.5

Sapphic gothic vampire-inspired horror?? Say less. The tension and the pacing of this book is so well done, and even though I could see a few of the twists coming, the journey to get there was just so good!! It did have a little too much medical body horror (like needles and related issues) for my personal tastes, so there were some parts I had to skim to get through, but I enjoyed literally everything else about it. I relate to Marion because I, too, would risk it all for hot countess who could and would kill me. Also in case you're worried

Spoiler

the cat survives!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Classism, Confinement, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Drug use, Gore, Trafficking, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Toxic relationship

looking4thedr's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? No

3.5

I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were slightly predictable and some parts were uninteresting to me, and I would have liked the side characters to have had a bit more focus. 
I liked the world building (I’m a vampire fan) and the themes of female friendships and camaraderie in the face of threat (not letting someone/a system take them from their community).  If there is a second instalment, it would be interesting to see where the characters go from here.

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Drug use

Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent

persephonefoxx's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

“You complain because there are gaps in the roof of my ribs, and you ask me to give more of myself to fill them.”

This book really tested my love of atmospheric horror, sapphic characters, and anything vampire adjacent - and my absolute squeamishness when it comes to blood. The vibes of this book are immaculate, bloody, and sensual. It was well worth suffering through the blood squeamishness.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, and Animal death

Moderate: Torture and Drug use

meowster18's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

I really loved this book. It took me a few months to read it because of constant book slumps but when I was ready to read, hun, I flew through it. Amazing atmosphere. Amazing prose. Amazing characters. I gave it a 4.75 only because I felt the ending to be a bit lacking in my opinion. A bit flimsy. Other than that, great book. Would recommend. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Torture

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.5

In lieu of the legendary Elizabeth Bathory, this book has some amazing atmosphere, the prose is emotionally-wrenching, the cast of characters (led by a strong female lead) are nothing short of fascinating, and the horror is corporeal to a tee. Seriously, it’s a great book about exploitation, imbalance in relationship dynamics, and what it truly means to escape more than one toxic situation. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Addiction, Death, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Grief, Self harm, Trafficking, Alcohol, Drug use, Alcoholism, Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Misogyny, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence

Be warned, there are scenes of moderately graphic lesbian sex, ageism, and how the system pits women against one another.

miraclesnow's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

It was enjoyable to read but nothing I’ll obsess over. Some themes & ideas that got left behind should have been thrust more to the forefront. It would have made for more interesting subtext to the story. At it stands now it felt a little samey, but still makes for good fiction.

I also think the pacing was right, but I feel the most meh about the last 10 percent.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Death, Gaslighting, and Addiction

Minor: Death of parent

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Drug use, Body horror, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Bullying, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Medical content, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

m_lee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Vomit, Slavery, Torture, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Classism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, Cursing, Incest, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Pedophilia

meeks_922's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Chronic illness, and Murder

mondovertigo's review

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Confinement, Medical trauma, and Drug abuse

Minor: Alcoholism