Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

De buitenstaander by Stephen King

58 reviews

livlonger007's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Kept me engaged throughout. Jaw-dropping and so interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, and Death

alaawritesablog's review against another edition

too graphic in ways i did not think added to my enjoyment of reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

stardustvein's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pregnancy

theimposter's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

Last two Stephen Kings books I read were duds for me, but this one was good! A good mix of weird and creepy paired against a strong heroine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

tiernanhunter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Racial slurs, and Vomit

nicole_cob_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

antireading's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Was on the edge of my seat until the third act. The first two acts are gripping and impossible to put down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer and Racism

Minor: Addiction, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

memydogandbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

4.5 ⭐️ dark crime thriller from the King!

SYNOPSIS:
"An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.

As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can."

MY THOUGHTS:

🧍🏻‍♂️ From the very beginning this starts with the brutal discovery of a murdered boy, which is dark and graphic (and thus not for everyone) from the outset. But it gripped me as I am a HUGE fan of dark dark thrillers.

🧍🏻‍♂️ The first part of this book feels like a disturbing crime thriller and then in true King style takes a twist you may/may not expect pending if you've ever read King before. I mean I never expected the twist per se but the kinda twist wasn't a surprise.

🧍🏻‍♂️ I LOVED the two main characters Holly* (from Mr. Mercedes/Bill Hodges Trilogy) and the investigating officer, Ralph, they made a great duo in this thriller.

🧍🏻‍♂️King's writing, I LOVE it, love it, love it. He has an outstanding ability to write about human nature that I connect with whilst often always having social commentary. As well as just his ability to write about normal day-to-day life in a captivating way.

🧍🏻‍♂️ In this book the social commentary is very much about our quick-to-judge society, and to believe the unbelievable as it's even more believable than... (well I cannot say! that would be a spoiler).

🧍🏻‍♂️ This book is dark, unsettling, disturbing, and horrifying but utterly gripping, poignant, with amazing characters and I could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book if you love dark thrillers (like Karin Slaughter's dark) but with a twist and have enjoyed books/movies like IT.

I also highly recommend the HBO tv adaptation of this, it's brilliant.


*This book contains spoilers to the Bill Hodges Trilogy due to the fact one of the key characters in this series (Holly) features. Also sooooo excited to know that King's new book this year is all about Holly as she is an awesome character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Murder

chloevienna's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.25

i had fun with this book, but didn’t find it to be anything incredible. the only other king i’ve read is the girl who loved tom gordon, and i thought that was far superior. this had some eerie descriptions, but nothing ever truly scared me or got under my skin like i hoped it would when i started this book. i enjoyed the characters and core ideas, but feel this had too much going on for its own good; it was somewhat convoluted and hard to follow at times. it was a fairly easy read and i enjoyed the experience, but i can’t say i’d confidently recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail