Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

156 reviews

rorikae's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

'The Library at Mount Char' by Scott Hawkins is a fascinating fantasy novel with horror elements. 
Carolyn is a Librarian at the Library. She and each of her siblings have their own catalogue, or area of interest, that they study as their Father prepares them for their role in life. To move further forward on their paths, they have to head out and interact with Americans to tackle the challenges coming their way. Steve, who is trying to lead a normal life, is pulled into Carolyn (and the Library's) schemes and it will change the course of his life. 
This is such a hard book to describe. It's weird and incredibly unique. There are a number of horrific elements, especially surrounding how different characters treat one another. It's fantasy but it is also very squarely set in a version of the United States that resembles our own. I do think it is best to go into this novel knowing next to nothing as the story unfolds. Everything wrapped up really well at the end, which helped to boost how I felt about it because during the reading process it seemed to drag at points. For a section of the story, I really didn't care about Steve or understand why we were spending so much time with him. This is revealed later and made sense but it didn't stop the middle section of the novel from dragging out what felt like could have been a much quicker process. And yet, I do think it all works together. I think this is a great book for a book club because there is a lot to discuss. If Scott Hawkins writes another book in the future, I will definitely be interested in picking it up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Car accident and Death of parent

sumia's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Rape and Death of parent

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Homophobia, Car accident, Outing, and Pandemic/Epidemic

megra's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Body horror, Slavery, Suicide, and Vomit

Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Excrement, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and War

errie's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

katclaybaugh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Child death

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

theyarelex's review against another edition

So much RACISM. Not even in the story, but in how the author wrote the characters, what they did, and the author's takes on things. Also terrible pacing. Love parts of the concept, but absolutely horrible coming from this writer

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

loafhart's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

There is a lottt of violence.. All forms

maecave15's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I don't know yet what to think of this strange and twisted story. Before I put down a review I need to collect my thoughts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol