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A review by maises
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“[…] fear of Hell is one of many paths to it. Forget Hell and love one another.”
I don’t remember the last time I felt true trepidation or fear in reading, even better to be rewarded with bearing it at the end. It’s not an easy narrative at all, and even the small slivers of peace have something heavy-laden with it. But Between Two Fires may now be my most favorite horror I’ve read yet. It’s now my belief that in order for any fictional horror to rightly use demons and horrors of hell, having its counterpart of heaven be seriously as divine and powerful much more compelling. Having only one deeply developed without the other is weak to me. I need glowing angel wings coming out of bodies as easily as possessed saintly stone statues on all fours trying to eat you.
Most of all, Delphine and Thomas and Matthieu were my trio. I will miss them so much, despite something happening to someone of these three... I will try to let that go. The epilogue made me cry a lot, too. Sometimes you just need a found family dad and daughter duo - a daughter who also happens to be like. Christ incarnate or something. Really good stuff. I’m so glad this was my first full read of the year, which took only days to blast through because I was so enthralled.
Mind the content warnings. This novel utilizes a lot of things.
I don’t remember the last time I felt true trepidation or fear in reading, even better to be rewarded with bearing it at the end. It’s not an easy narrative at all, and even the small slivers of peace have something heavy-laden with it. But Between Two Fires may now be my most favorite horror I’ve read yet. It’s now my belief that in order for any fictional horror to rightly use demons and horrors of hell, having its counterpart of heaven be seriously as divine and powerful much more compelling. Having only one deeply developed without the other is weak to me. I need glowing angel wings coming out of bodies as easily as possessed saintly stone statues on all fours trying to eat you.
Most of all, Delphine and Thomas and Matthieu were my trio. I will miss them so much, despite something happening to someone of these three... I will try to let that go. The epilogue made me cry a lot, too. Sometimes you just need a found family dad and daughter duo - a daughter who also happens to be like. Christ incarnate or something. Really good stuff. I’m so glad this was my first full read of the year, which took only days to blast through because I was so enthralled.
Mind the content warnings. This novel utilizes a lot of things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Violence, and Antisemitism