Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

14 reviews

heypretty52's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent

Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual content

kshertz's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This offer has an amazing way with words in a way that just challenges me and helps me to see the world in a different way. The incorporation of magical realism is just so intentional and the themes that surround so deep I absolutely love this author and the way that they really make a point in a way that is not straightforward and direct but creeps up on you that you think about for days afterwards. It’s definitely worth a read for this short Novella.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

ariana3's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• 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, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Blood, and Murder

count_of_carabas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

jashanac's review against another edition

3.5

Summary:
 Award-winning author Kelly Barnhill brings her singular talents to The Crane Husband, a raw, powerful story of love, sacrifice, and family.

Re-Readability:
Probably wouldn't re-read this.

Characters:
This is a novella and you know how I tend to fare with novellas. The characters felt slightly surface-level, I guess. I liked the main character and her resilience and practicality and protectiveness over her brother.

Plot:
Obviously this is kind of an "odd" story and there's a lot that isn't quite explained, as far as whether it's meant to be real or fantasy -- very much a magical realism/fabulism vibe. (I'm not sure if it's actually categorized as that or not.) I imagine that anyone who saw abuse in the household as a child would relate to this story a lot and perceive it entirely differently from those of us who didn't have that experience. 

The ending felt really rushed and kind of tacked-on, to me. I think I would have liked the ending more if the main character's narration had ended pretty soon after the Big Event. Like, having her explain what happened 20 years later in such a rushed fashion just fell a bit flat for me. 

Themes: 
Sacrifice. Family. Abusive relationships. Fear. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror

qarina's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death and Abandonment

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

booksthoughtsandtea's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.5

This book shows the lengths older siblings will go to protect younger siblings, that love isn't enough to live on, the power of selfishness and selflessness, and the burden of grief. I wish this book had a more satisfying ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

arayo's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

Heartbreaking; a tale of neglect, abuse, and violence, but also about gaining self-agency and powerful enduring love.

This one may be a tough read for those who had to grow up to early and became sibling-parents due to neglect, or anyone who has survived domestic violence. Multiple times this little story had me ugly crying. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail