Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor

22 reviews

anxious_jay's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse and Abortion

whiskeywoman79's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

 Fiction / Horror / Mystery / Thriller / Crime / Suspense
⭐⭐⭐/5
TW: SA (graphic once, but mentioned in different ways throughout)

I am not sure what to say about this story. It was creepy. It had its good parts and its bad parts? I was left confused and underwhelmed? I am rather unsure how I feel about it as a whole.
 

 
I feel like the author kept trying to justify inappropriate adult-child relationships. Like the one that was forced was bad, but because the young girl liked the teacher back that one wasn't bad, TF?!! Both shouldn't have happened, and neither should be condoned.
Can we also acknowledge that he was sexually assaulted!! They kept glazing over that Other than when he asked about the accusation made at the church "What he did to you - some people would give that same name."
I have no idea how it won the awards it did.
Will like this if you like Stephen King? For me it is like SCI Fi movies it's the B-rated version of Stand By Me.
I grew up in a small US town in the 1980s, yet I felt so disconnected from the flashbacks, maybe it is a UK v US thing? I never believed they were 80's kids.
I had such high hopes for this read because The Burning Girls is one of my 5-star reads for this year, after DNFing The Drift, and now my experience with this I am starting to think it was a one-off. 

I am using this for a challenge I am just not sure which one yet. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Gore, Dementia, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Car accident

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense

• Loveable characters? No

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, and Pregnancy

bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

Overall I did enjoy this read a lot with some of the foreshadowing being really well done. I liked the dual timeline plot to see the impact of the secrets and lies.

C.J Tudor does really well in writing out an intriguing horror scene and each chapter left on some form of a cliff hanger which made it quite compelling to read. There were a lot of twists to keep track of by the half point way - some stronger than others.

The fact that 2 different characters had inappropriate age related relationships felt a bit lazy.

I wanted to rate this book higher but the wrapping up of mysteries feel a bit short for me and I did feel a little lost at times. Though the final 4 pages - Wow! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Dementia, Car accident, Abortion, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Death of parent

breruby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death, Gore, and Alcohol

tlskayte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, and Car accident

anniesbookpicks's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Pedophilia

Minor: Body horror

smexy_smerf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

THIS- I CAN'T. I NEED PART TWO  <SPOILER MF> WHAT THIS PSYCHO THIEF DO WITH HER HEAD. HER FUCKING HEAD.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Murder

bexsur's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Blood, Dementia, Abortion, and Alcohol

meeshell89's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Ahhh this book was great! So creepy and messed up! Loved all the twists and turns and I really liked the alternating chapters from past to present. Definitely gave me Stephen King’s “It” vibes. Love the tag line of the book- “everyone has secrets” .. oh yes, yes they do!!! So glad I picked this book up! Now I feel like re reading it to pick up on all the little clues scattered throughout. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Dementia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Car accident