Reviews with content warning for Death - The Haar

Now THIS is the most romantic I ever want horror to be. I really loved this story. It’s thoughtful and sentimental and sad and gross!!!! The body horror is outrageous. I loved every second of it. And the connection to the sea!!!! Ugh. I just love the ocean. The atmosphere in this was just superb. There was a couple of aspects I found a little ridiculous but it didn’t pull me out of the story. I would really not be surprised if this is made into a movie soon (a24 is my hope but my luck is a Hulu original).

I am just so happy that this was the 100th book I read this year!!!! 🥹🖤

p.s. I’ve never read a monsterfucker book but I think this falls in the category somehow— but in the most chill way if that makes sense? Like it’s not a monsterfucker book but it has monsterfucker elements. At least questionable ones for me.

Like, he’s for sure a monster and she absolutely fucks him. But he’s human when they have sex (specifically in a human suit of her dead husband). Like I think that counts, right??

Either way, I respect it. Get it, Muriel.

Content Warnings

rheam1224's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

(from Goodreads review)
I really did not know what I expected when I got into this book, but I finished it feeling very warm. It makes me laugh, knowing that on my Kindle it says "The Haar: A Horror Novel" because yes, sometimes I had to remind myself that this was indeed horror. Muriel was a fantastic, sympathetic character despite all the wild shit she does or tries to reason out in order to keep seeing "Billy"/Avalon. I love the fact that she was an old heroine, in charge of herself and having some deeper complexities beyond even the story. I couldn't stop thinking about this story being made into a movie and finding joy in knowing that the comedy and horror would be so interwoven because isn't that life? (I mean besides a sea creature literally melting you into goop in order to eat you from the outside in . . .)

Anyway, what a charming read!

Content Warnings

sheriffrockyraccoon's review

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

After hearing about this book online from a few influencers, I was intrigued by the plot. It is definitely bizarre and darkly hilarious with a beautiful message at the end.

I did find the antagonist, Patrick Grant, to be a bit 2-dimensional, so the kills didn’t feel as scary as one could expect as you were generally cheering for the monster. While that can be great for some, I definitely enjoy more intriguing bad guys.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in indie horror or Scottish folk tales. There is also some great dark humor.

Content Warnings

mlovesbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad 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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

raybudbury's review

Go to review page

dark funny hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Loved this one a lot. Very heartwarming and charming for how gnarly the horror/gore was.

I think this is a great example of an excellent horror story imo. Horror seems to be the hardest genre to write/direct. It’s hard to pace, it’s hard to make text/visuals scary, etc.

This one is great because it uses both humour and heart to balance out the gore and horror of the situation.

+ it’s more like…. Is this monster really the bad guy in this situation or is it the big corporation that destroyed this small Scottish town to blame for the carnage

anyway loved it.

Content Warnings