Reviews tagging 'Torture'

In the House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt

3 reviews

renyoi's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Fans of The VVitch will love this book. It manages to be a dark fairy tale without falling into the trappings of the traditional “fairy tale but make it EDGY” genre, mostly because it is not based off of an existing fairy tale and is therefore allowed more creativity and horror because of it. Striking scenes of genuine horror intersperse the first 75% of this book, which is otherwise primarily atmosphere and conversation that comes into its own through the reveal at the end. I’d say that reveal is really what makes this book—it adds complexity, helplessness, and hints toward the horror of repetition and cycle in an innovative, creative way. Absolutely recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Colonisation, Animal death, and Child abuse

Minor: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

junowo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

This book took me by surprise. Though I was a bit thrown off at first by the writing style, I’ve found that this is a new favorite book for me. Hunt does very well at setting the atmosphere for horror, and even when nothing is happening, I felt a genuine sense of foreboding while reading.
It’s hard to discuss this book without spoilers, and I recommend going into it knowing as little as possible. If you enjoy piecing together parts of a mystery, you will enjoy this book, because it creates its mystery masterfully. At some points I felt frustrated that I didn’t have answers, but now that I’ve finished it I think each answer came at the right time.
If you enjoy the dark style of fairytale found in Grimm stories, you will have as much fun as I did reading this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Sexual violence, Colonisation, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

laurajones's review

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Torture