Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

20 reviews

thoughtsontomes's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This is to Norse mythology as Circe is to Greek mythology. I loved our main character but didn’t necessarily get their dynamics with other characters, mainly Loki. But she’s a disaster bisexual all powerful witch who lives in the woods so I’ll forgive her. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore and Kidnapping

leahrosiee's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-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

3.75

 - I fully expected to have to slog through THE WITCH'S HEART, as I have little interest in Norse mythology. However, I read the entire thing in one day and one sitting, completely drawn in to Angrboda's story.
- The writing reads like oral tradition, flowing on and on.
- While many of the plot developments were telegraphed in advance, taking Angrboda longer to catch on that it probably should have, I still found myself quite immersed in the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

innastholiel's review against another edition

emotional sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Stalking, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol

mayaccountant's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Gore

hannalizzy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I love mythology retellings, and this one definitely stands on its own among them. My first brush with Norse Mythology rather than Greek, and I’m really pleased with how it went because it came from such a unique perspective. Angrboda was easy to love, and such a fierce and protective mother. Loki was easy to hate, but he somehow manages to escape slightly likeable. I was constantly surprised at how the book progressed, and the ending broke my heart. If you loved Circe (like I did) then you’d love this one just as much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

karbour99's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Miscarriage

shontellereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This has a veerrry slow beginning and I wasn't so sold on it. However, around the midway point it really started chugging along. The writing in this was lyrical and whimsical, the magic was unexplainable (you may or may not be into that), and it followed mythology well without it seeming repetitive. A beautiful story that reminds me of the likes of Circe, The Bear and the Nightingale, and Spinning Silver. But it is slow and subtle, don't be expecting an epic retelling.
I think this is also the authors first novel, and that is impressive.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gore

iguana's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore

alatarmaia's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

4.75

the book: (has conflict between characters)
me: WHY CAN'T YOU ALL JUST GET ALONG

seriously though, this book made me feel some real ass emotions. Angrboda and the tragedies her family goes through are front and center, and while I was extremely ;A; at the way several people behaved, it was written in such a way that it made sense that they would behave that way/say those things. 

Angrboda's personal journey in the latter half of the book is interesting, but it feels a little light, or unfinished, if that's the right word? Maybe I just wanted more out of it, or wanted a happier ending, but I assume the author made the choices in her conclusion that she did for a reason. It definitely fits the book, but ultimately any dissatisfaction I have is more because of my own Norse mythology headcanons than any fault in the author's writing. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore and Blood

Ragnarok happens, so that's pretty nasty. Also, implied harm towards children, and on-screen rough treatment of the same children when they're removed from Angrboda's care (though that's a too-pleasant way of phrasing it)