Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Entre Ciel et Enfer by Christopher Buehlman

90 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

thelonelywizard's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

That was certainly a lot! My god. The ending gutted me, RIP to a real one (Pere Matthieu)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Gore

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Antisemitism

wasserglanz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, and War

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

poechedkrisps's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

I thought this would just be a metal, horror-filled read, but by God, the ending made me emotional and actually rejuvenated some of my own faith back.

While this book starts off really quite slow at first, it really ramps up in intensity and stakes midway through. And then when

it got to the epic battles, the way the devils and hell are depicted, the description and of angels—everything was just hook after hook.

I love books with paralleling ends and beginnings, and this one features this.

The ending quite literally parallels the beginning and even features a well-deserved epilogue for our main character's lost past.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Antisemitism

Minor: Rape

itsjustgrumpy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

Savage, brutal, heartfelt and hilarious. What an absolutely stellar religious grimdark tale.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Incest

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.