Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

31 reviews

lolovg__'s review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

limina's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was... something. I was interested enough to read the whole thing but it took me well over a month, despite being 250 pages. At times I just found it dull just reading descriptions of Frank patrolling the island, but then I was also fascinated at his compulsions and rituals.  There was a lot of plain old humdrummery peppered with kernels of plot to keep you hooked. I don't think it really paid off, considering how you think it's going to end and then how it actually ends. 

It really makes me think of the horror movie Sleepaway Camp. Also, Esmeralda's death was CRAZY

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

lordofdisorder's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Ableism and Racism

jully_bean's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

night_shift's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

I dunno, man. Had some darkly funny bits but I called the ending (although wavered here and there when clues were "resolved") about a quarter of the way in. I can see where this was probably shocking and I was deff uncomfortable with the frequent animal deaths, but something about this felt like it was trying to say something but even Banks didn't know until that very last chapter where he tried to bring it all together (not entirely successfully, imo)
I guess also this wasn't going to be my jam from the start as I'm not a fan of the sociopath/serial killer POV. That said, Frank really is a unique voice and it doesn't waver.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Alcoholism and Body horror

Minor: Child death and Mental illness

jumpingjacksofy's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder

gawdz0rz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

unsettling and dark. unfortunately, the wasp factory had me feeling left behind on a few things for a while, and even now i’m still a little confused on their relevance, but maybe that’s my fault. the plot twists were interesting, and i think the book overall is an interesting critique of gender and toxic masculinity. it’ll be interesting to read this again in the future knowing how the book ends. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder

moonmoonsun's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

animal deaths and torture: dogs, rabbits, mice, sheep wasps

rarityfemme's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Note: I don't like giving star ratings as I dont really understand the system. Please forgive the lack of one.

I hate to admit that I enjoyed this book, but I really did.

Its a great horror/thriller read with a lot of very dark plot points and a twist that I wasnt expecting at all. (I am a bit daft though, I'll be the first to admit it)

If you're a sensitive reader I highly recommend thoroughly perusing the trigger warnings, as they'll definitely be needed. 

All in all, if you're someone who can handle dark topics I'd recommend this to you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Moderate: Body horror and Transphobia

mark_74's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a very dark story. Take heed of the content warnings as they probably don't do justice to how vicious and grotesque this is in places. At the same time though I couldn't stop reading it, it is as fascinating as it is disturbing. I've actually read this three times now, leaving a long gap between each so I can recover, and I still love it and loathe it as much as I did the first time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury