Reviews with content warning for Gore - Below

Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Below by Laurel Hightower

27 reviews

nika_nix's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This one started off so strong but started falling apart towards the middle and it dragged a bit, as if an author didn't know where she was going with the story. I also really didn't like the ending at all. I also feel like the "feminism topics" were a bit too much on the nose. Still a thrilling and creepy horror with good gore imagery and a lot of dark and wintery vibes.

Content Warnings

waywardskyril's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

"With her gaze focused on her feet while her mind scrambled for purchase, she was in excellent position to see the hand, bone white and four-fingered, reach from the night and clasp her ankle."

Below by Laurel Hightower was a gratifying read with neverending twists, the interminable thrill melting away the pages. Combined with the skill of the writing making this an incredibly easy read, Below is an enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone who likes paranormal horror, even though some of the questions are left unanswered and the ending didn't fully make sense.

Below Trigger Warnings at the bottom of the review

Considering this is a novella, there's a ton packed in. You leave the story with a lot of mysteries, but also an experience unlike any other. There are so many twists and developments, it's almost nonstop, making you want to keep flipping pages all the way through the story.

This is especially easy to do with the effortless flow of the writing. This book had an excellent ability to grab its reader and keep them until the final pages closed.

"The snow fell heavy while she climbed, but the inches of accumulation silenced the hillside. Flakes collected in her hair and on her eyelashes, and her feet and hands were soon frigid, her fingers too stiff to grab onto trees and brush on her way up."

The characters, particularly the main character, have some surprising depth, and the MC is actually dynamic, going through some changes by the end of her ordeal.
Overall, she was likeable, but there was something a bit off about her. Her decision making capabilities, logic, and the voices inside her head all made her seem a bit separated from a realistic character, not too far apart, but far enough to take me out of the story briefly from time to time.

In conclusion, this IS a good story, and it exceeded my expectations in writing style and excitement, but fell short in explanation and motivation. On the scale of whether I recommend it, I find it's good enough to weigh decidedly on the side of recommend. It's a thrilling, dark little story that'll entertain any horror buff.

Below Trigger Warnings (POSSIBLE mild SPOILERS AHEAD):

~Past emotionally abusive relationship that is frequently mentioned and heavily on the MCs mind
~Dead bodies, described in detail
~Blood, brains, guts, dismembered limbs (it gets a bit gross a couple of times, but I wouldn't describe it as "excessive")
~Hydrophobia
~Claustrophobia
~Intense; scary; monsters; and near blindness from how dark it is

Content Warnings

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

mermaidsherbet's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.0

Content Warnings

killing_u95's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Perfect! Short read at just over 100 pages, but was written to feel like a full novel. Immediately you're drawn in to the characters and feel sympathetic for them, rooting everyone on. Lot of twists and mind breaking events. Can't recommend enough.

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sdsmith80's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

Brief yet brutal! ***Minor spoilers ahead***

This novella is a quick read, but really packs a punch! The dread and despair were palpable through most of it, which is something I really love. I want to be worried about the characters and whether or not they'll survive. This book came through beautifully.

I also kept wondering about Mads through the beginning. Although we get some insight later on, I'm still wondering just what the nature of his business was. Honestly, I would love to see that explored further. Maybe a prequel someday? Okay, really I just want to see more of this universe, period. I want to know what the creatures are, who else they may have targeted,

and what Addy will do with her future. </Spoiler>

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bbtea's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I went into “Below” incredibly excited, but unfortunately left my time in the caverns a bit disappointed. The elements of greatness were there; creepy, horrific creatures, the mystery of Mothman, hell on psyche of our main character. But some parts missed the mark of their potential for me, and I also wanted more of the man himself from the front cover in the story.

I’ve seen others love it though, and perhaps its execution just wasn’t for me!

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kt_jams's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

gssll_lpz's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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

Content Warnings

howlinglibraries's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

"Came outta nowhere, didn't it?"

There are four things that I love, all of which are present in this book: cryptids, feminist horror, Laurel Hightower's writing, and a story so action-packed I have to devour it in one sitting.

I love cryptid stories in general, and like many cryptid lovers, I have a soft spot for Mothman. (I'm a diehard member of the "Mothman isn't bad, actually, he's just trying to help" club, in case you were wondering.)

When I heard Laurel was writing a story involving him, I was immediately sold, though I did force myself to patiently wait a little while to read this because I knew one of my favorite bookish groups was planning to read it in October. It was so worth the wait!

I loved Addy's character and how angry and full of spite and pain she was over the misogyny she'd faced throughout her life, especially from her ex-husband. When we meet her, she's already jaded and mistrusting of men she meets, and honestly, it was very easy to relate to her concerns and wariness. But that element of the story takes a backseat pretty quickly because let me tell you, shit hits the fan fast in this novella, and once it does, it never lets up until the end.

I was totally captivated and loved every second of this. It would make such a fun horror movie adaptation (*cough cough, side-eyes streaming services*), and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes cryptids, creature features, and/or horror with badass, tough feminist heroines. I can't wait to see what Laurel comes out with next!

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