Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

59 reviews

bforcs's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

wyabook234's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

 Between Two Fires proves that Buehlman kept his research up to date by how the author emphasized the troubles of the European medieval era. That historical context is critical regarding the story's heavy themes of religion and divinity as the trio of travellers makes their trip through the plague-ridden lands. It is a journey that brings about themes of finding peace and forgiveness at a time when it seems impossible for someone like Thomas to get that tranquillity through fighting demons on the inside and out. While Thomas is cynical and rude, you will get around to caring for his struggles as much as you care for the struggles of Delphine and Matthieu. There is some intense imagery involving the brutality of the medieval era with the warfare and the corruption of people's faith that won't deter you from putting the book down.

However, after Matthieu meets his faith at the river, the journey starts to stagger for a bit when the narrative is directed towards his brother Robert. While his inclusion isn't phone into the plot, Robert isn't as interesting as his conflicted brother. Some of the dream sequences can also be distracting as they intertwine within the narrative, and you could argue that Thomas and Delphine's fates are saved from hell because of a Deus Ex Machina. Nevertheless, you'll still give that sigh of relief in reading about their lives after the journey at the end of the book.

The scene that I won't forget from this book is when the travellers open the door to the possessed statue of the Virgin Mary in Paris; who is using a cadaver of a baby who goad them into causing carnage. Hearing how that baby was "crying" was pretty screwed up in how it manipulated Jehan and Annette's sense of concern before the Virgin killed them. It then shows other living statues of saints are using the same tactic to murder the townspeople, which can be disturbing in retrospect when it comes to how they are preying on those who have faith in these figures.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Antisemitism

Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Excrement, and Death of parent

archaicrobin's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I had high hopes for this medieval horror book mostly due to all the praise this one has received, but unfortunately Between Two Fires fell short for me.

The writing style is abrupt and brash which suits the story and the setting, but it does make connecting with the characters at first a little hard, or at least it was for me.  I found it hard to feel attached to anyone until more than halfway too the book and at that point it’s too late.

The story itself is interesting and my favorite part was all the crazy demons they encounter but something was missing for me. Between Two Fires is a well written story and you can tell the writer is knowledgeable but I was never intrigued enough to want to pick this one up. I honestly don’t understand all the hype behind this novel. It’s fine, but not great.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

avalete's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

There’s so much I can say and yet I don’t know what I could. Genuinely, one of the best books I will ever read. For sure. As soon as I started, I knew this book was going to be something special, and I’ll never experience anything like it ever again.

This is some of the best writing I have ever read. All of it. This book is horrifying and I love it so, so much. The war waging in heaven, the plague claiming France, the people trying desperately to survive. Thomas, Delphine, and Matthieu’s relationship to another and religion. The literal demons of hell they have to face along the way.

It feels truly hopeless and that God has abandoned man.

And yet.

I can’t in good conscience recommend this book without also warning that there’s a long, long list of content warnings to go with it. Just about anything one can think of is mentioned in this book in some capacity.

Still, this is an excellent book and I loved every moment spent reading it, and every moment I’ll spend thinking about it after.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Incest and Cannibalism

loafhart's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Homophobia

A lot of religious imagery, there is a scene of an attempted rape between the 2 main characters (one of which is a child) so beware... Also main character (thomas) might be homophobic but there isnt much detail or any more mention of it

sean_davy's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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

5.0

Like The Last of Us set in a plague ridden France but the plague is actually the consequence of hell's lead in a holy war with heaven. Can't really sell it better than that. It even reads like a video game with the serialised monster encounters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

thepeach77's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

The book is very dark, a lot of violence and gore. The book deals with demons and the 7 deadly sins. The religious beliefs of the area during the time leans towards a bit of antisemitism, but it is not a main point and it is obvious that it is not supported by the author, just part of the historical context.

sofipitch's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

Overall a good book. It really delivers on horror, especially on a type that I feel is more rare but to me hits hard which is engaging in something you morally object to, it's a recurring theme of "you are what you do" which was interesting. It had what I felt was a lot of Christian themes, mainly redemption, while at the same time criticizing the institution of Christianity, so I can actually see this being popular with those who do and don't believe but raised with that religion. It has considerably less to say about Judaism and Islam, doing the "it's all the same God right?" thing which may annoy some.

Plot wise it dragged at times and I felt the way the major conflict resolved was a bit weak. But it manages to be both entertaining and thought provoking. Also does it's genre fiction, historical and horror, really well. I actually wish I knew more books of that combo of genres

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Infidelity, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

lessie's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

way more than just a lone wolf and cub type of story. good lord! this is the kind of religious/medieval horror i dig. despite all of my marked warnings in this book, the ending is very satisfying. just before the middle, the pacing drags some, but it picks up again very quickly. the back half of this book had me by the throat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Vomit and Suicide attempt

beesbookhaunts's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

I was surprised by this one! Going to add spoiler tags because it’s hard for me to describe my feelings without giving away too many plot details. 

Normally I am not into religious horror that has a happy ending, God saves the day type of thing. But I loved the characters so much!  And the horror elements? Perfectly done.  Instead of it just being standard temptations for our heroes, they were faced with some truly terrifying things, which got to me a few times. Having a happy ending just felt right after all they went through!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Religious bigotry, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault

Minor: Sexual violence