Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

49 reviews

bookedbymadeline's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

The first half was extremely slow and I had a hard time feeling motivated to read it especially while in a mini slump. I enjoyed the unique concept and the atmospheric, gothic setting!

Also was it meant to be Lisavet bathory as in BLOOD COUNTESS BATHORY?! Because that would’ve been cool.

Food descriptions made up for the sometimes nauseating blood scenes 🫣 I’m someone with a very weak stomach like can’t look at blood and I’ll get dizzy so I often times felt queasy reading this, it’s not for the faint hearted (like me)!

The second half picked up and I did enjoy the plot twist but felt it lacked in execution, it was resolved so quickly making it feel rushed while at the same time I still have questions. The characters overall felt very flat and one dimensional. I wanted to get to know them better, even Marion I feel we don’t get much from other than how she views herself.

It was an interesting story and one that I’m glad I stuck with! It was entertaining and unique but I didn’t love it as much as I expected to. Will definitely check out more from Henderson as I do still want to read Year of the Witching!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Incest and Death of parent

e_riahh's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shannismcewen's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I read this for a book club and never would have picked it up otherwise. It was so gripping, once I started it I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Blood

rock_gnome's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

written_in_mold's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a vampire book the way Dracula and Camilla are vampire books. It takes its genre to the base elements, blood, manipulation, power dynamics, and so much more. It is amazing. Every character is complex and you can understand them even if you hate them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Incest, Infidelity, and Kidnapping

junejunejulyjuly's review

dark mysterious tense

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

natspat98's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

crybabybea's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Nothing crazy. Not bad, not amazing. Just a fun, twisty read with some good horror moments.

I wanted a bit more out of pretty much every part of this. For the first time I actually felt like this book was too short to accomplish a really good payoff. For some reason it felt simultaneously way too slow during the beginning and then way too fast at the end. I was especially disappointed by the characters and how quickly the relationships move. Marion was a bit of a confusing character considering her backstory, and Lisavet was almost compelling but just fell a bit short for me. I did enjoy the relationships between Marion and the other girls but still felt like they were quite flat.

The plot itself is interesting and there is just enough mystery threaded through the story that it keeps your interest. I can't say that the twist itself was particularly surprising, but I still enjoyed the journey there and the resolution after. 

There are a couple sapphic moments but the relationship is incredibly imbalanced power-wise and abusive, so don't expect a good time in the average sense of the word :)

The ending gave me Sucker Punch vibes which was cool.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement and Gaslighting

Minor: Incest

Do NOT read this if you have a fear of needles. Also the cat does not die.

mochimustreads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, and Violence

laurevanaerschot's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Torture and Violence