becky_efc's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
jemmabrown's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
One of the most graphic horror novels dealing with difficult subject matter that many would not want to read. I really enjoyed it but it does contain a lot of gore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Medical content, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Vomit, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
kris_t97's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
While the plot was interesting and unique, some rather misogynistic and stereotypical depictions of women and people of colour put me off overall. I don't recommend this book if you can't handle heavy-handed horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Medical content, Child death, Abortion, Death, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, Blood, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Spoiler
this book is heavily about abortions and aborted foetuses coming to life, which can be really confronting to someSpoiler
.redheadbookgirl's review
dark
3.0
This was… bizarre. Masterton is one of my all time favourite authors, having written my most top rated detective series, Katie Maguire, but I haven’t read much else by him. And this had me pretty wide-eyed in shock the whole way through!! It’s super hard to discuss this book without giving anything away but firstly—
I have three things to say. 1: I am SO bloody glad I was not pregnant whilst reading this book 😳 2: Imagine getting a power cut whilst home alone listening to this (spoiler: it was not fun). And 3: I had to google what a fatberg was— 10/10 don’t recommend it, I wish I’d remained ignorant.
This was just honestly grotesque. Masterton does not shy away from descriptive gore and body horror, but this was nothing like your usual murder scenes— I almost wish I could un-hear the entire book because I can’t get it out of my head and some scenes were chillingly repulsive.
This was pretty horrifying for sure, but I definitely ended up more repulsed + creeped out than scared. Having said that, horror is what Masterton is know for and HORRIFIED🫠 is what I was. If you’ve got a strong stomach, are a fan of horror, and are looking for a disturbing, supernatural crime novel, then check this out- but don’t say I didn’t warn you!!
ecrew's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Miscarriage
pbanditp's review
5.0
“It’s so beautiful” she whispered, “How can anything so horrible be so beautiful.”
So difficult to review without giving away any of the gory, twisted details.
The beginning is an absolute crazy ride, nonstop cinematic tense action that forces you to keep reading. I caught myself muttering “no, no, no...” repeatedly and I felt violated like the words crawled up inside me and were burrowing around.
Beings in the sewers, deformed feotus’ striving to stay alive, a long dead witch, and two detectives trying to piece it all together...this book made me cringe and squirm.
“Nobody else wanted to have it on their service record that they had spent weeks chasing fortunes with eight legs and a hooded figure made of smoke.”
This book was so good that I didn’t want to read it because I didn’t want it to end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So difficult to review without giving away any of the gory, twisted details.
The beginning is an absolute crazy ride, nonstop cinematic tense action that forces you to keep reading. I caught myself muttering “no, no, no...” repeatedly and I felt violated like the words crawled up inside me and were burrowing around.
Beings in the sewers, deformed feotus’ striving to stay alive, a long dead witch, and two detectives trying to piece it all together...this book made me cringe and squirm.
“Nobody else wanted to have it on their service record that they had spent weeks chasing fortunes with eight legs and a hooded figure made of smoke.”
This book was so good that I didn’t want to read it because I didn’t want it to end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
justafaerietayle'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
radicalrachelreads's review
5.0
This is what I’m talking about!! My kind of horror book - great concept, solid writing, no plot holes, no loose ends, just the right amount of gore, supernatural elements, interesting characters, and lots of delightful weirdness!
Ghost Virus was my first Masterton book and I really liked it but this one I loved! The story was just so absorbing and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I can’t wait to read more of Masterton’s work. I’m definitely a fan!
Thank you to Graham Masterton, Head of Zeus, and #NetGallery for an eARC of #TheChildrenGodForgot in return for an honest review.
Ghost Virus was my first Masterton book and I really liked it but this one I loved! The story was just so absorbing and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I can’t wait to read more of Masterton’s work. I’m definitely a fan!
Thank you to Graham Masterton, Head of Zeus, and #NetGallery for an eARC of #TheChildrenGodForgot in return for an honest review.