Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

177 reviews

matcha_cat's review against another edition

dark 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Excrement and Fire/Fire injury

leweylibrary's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm going to need some time to think of this one now, so my rating will probably change, especially after we talk about it in book club.

I will say that there is a lot packed into such a short story, especially in terms of the folklore references and the characters and their relationships. I wish I would've had now detail and time to chew on all that though. The action also happened just so dang quickly and then it was just...over. Idk I'm going to need time to think about this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

valentinaburbank's review

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

This book was disappointing. I hated all of the characters with the exception of one (and they were not the narrator, who I found rudderless a d weird). Gore and grossness that were just not supported by plot development. Unlike some reviewers I liked the prose - but then it was interupted by inane dialog a dn one dimensional characters.  The description of the house and the things contained inside it was beautifully done. I wanted more of that and less of the odd, unmotivated, murky characters.  Also unlike some reviewers I found the scary parts scary - but the climax of the action was chaotic and awful. Not scary, just horrible. And not in a good way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

chelbelle122's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.0

Incredibly lyrical...but not much of a plot to care about. Novellas can suck you in as much as a 400 page book when done well, but sadly, this wasn't it for me. I wanted my first read of spooky season to be a good ghost story, alas, I am disappointed. 

Premise was off to a good start...but that's about it. No good plot twist, not enough tension and story building. Just a lot of angst and meh? 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

elysianbud's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Underwhelming. Feels like it should have been shorter or much longer. Some good spooky moments though. Quick read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

lpltaylor's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

It’s brief, there’s messiness between the characters, once it really gets going it’s swift and horrific.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

It’s a horror book with messy histories between its characters. They go and mess with stuff they probably shouldn’t have messed with because they love going to haunted or supposedly haunted places. There is gruesome material as it plays out.

casparquarius's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I think Cassandra Khaw is one of my favorite contemporary horror writers, between this and Salt Grows Heavy. Khaw's way with language is just so beautiful and memorable, and this story tense and interesting. really enjoyed this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

ewwa18's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Body horror and Blood

Minor: Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

bigsleepie's review

challenging dark fast-paced

2.0

Started off with such promise, but unraveled fairly quickly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Vomit