Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul by Eleanor Herman

4 reviews

freyacat's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

3.0

This book is gross - fascinating, informative, but gross. The author does an excellent job bringing to life a variety of historical figures who may, or may not, have been poisoned. She describes in explicit details the living conditions and medical practices of the Medieval period. These conditions and practices are disgusting. So if you have a sensitive stomach, this may not be the book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Medical content

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic

magikskydad's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Chronic illness, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

This book is a historical work that describes the history of poisoning. It is incredibly informative. Sometimes it is gory and traffic but it’s totally worth the read if your interested in the history of royalty, or the darker and stranger working of medicine.

kecresser's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

Love, love, LOVE this author! This the second book by Eleanor Herman I've read and she just has a great way of explaining history that makes it accessible and entertaining. I knew next to nothing about poison before starting this book, and I think the author does a great job of explaining the landscape of poisoning (both intentional and unintentional) in medieval and renaissance Europe before jumping into the case studies. I had no idea life back then was so hazardous and gross, even for the ultra wealthy and noble. There are also small bits of humor throughout the book like keeps things light. I highly enjoyed this book and will definitely be seeking out other books by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Pandemic/Epidemic

witchleaves's review against another edition

dark funny informative mysterious sad fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Excrement, Vomit, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism