Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

After the Forest by Kell Woods

5 reviews

onmymccloud's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape

liesthemoontells's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Murder, War, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Classism, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment

mirandaphodge's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

3.25

It was… meh. I didn’t love some of the plot devices. I don’t know German enough to feel comfortable with the words she was using like everyone would know them - I was literally pulled out of the story when I had to google some words. Also, can we stop using SA as the reason a woman is evil?

the main villain became evil when her sister was killed by the huntsman and then she was r*ped to death. Really?!

I hated Hans. He made continual bad choices that endangered the people he supposedly loved. Some of the side characters could have been more fleshed out. 

The only reason for the mid-star rating is that I did like the MC meet-cute and romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

longstorysteph's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent

shantastic_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

What an enchanting read!  I decided to request the audiobook from Netgalley after it was predicted to be Illumicrate's October selection.  I like fairytale retellings, but I must admit that I wasn't sure if Hansel and Gretel was one that really interested me.  But this book is a whole afterstory of the lives of Hansel and Gretel as adults, coping with their childhood trauma and economic hardship in their rural village struggling with the aftermath of war.  This was a dark and compelling adult storyline I wasn't necessarily expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself drawn in.

What I loved: 

- Creative premise and storytelling that entwines multiple fairytales.

- The writing style is gorgeous and elegant. 

- The setting made me feel I was immersed in this magical woodland.

- The audiobook narration by Esther Wane was on point! Melodic and captivating.

- That gorgeous cover and esthetic!

Some cautions:

- Violence against animals -  essential to the story but be aware before you dive in because there are some gruesome scenes.

- There are some feminist themes but would have enjoyed if it was more subversive.

- You will be hungry and craving gingerbread!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape