Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

13 reviews

quirkykay's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Transphobia, Gore, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny

Moderate: Animal death and Rape

beastybugs's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Sexual content, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Body horror

thegayestghost's review

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I really enjoyed this. My one gripe is I really wish Stevie were older than 18. It makes the sex scenes a little awkward. Besides that it was great!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Body horror, Misogyny, Gore, Death of parent, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Blood, Confinement, and Death

Minor: Abortion

emilyceratops's review

adventurous dark 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

Excellent!! Perfect amount of spookiness. Some of the hottest sex scenes I've read recently. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Death

Minor: Abortion, Bullying, and Pregnancy

suchacommotion's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Trans. Gory. Horny. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexual violence and Rape

bookenbee's review

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Body horror, and Transphobia

ryanandrew23's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Deadnaming, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual content, Animal death, Body horror, Death of parent, Homophobia, Death, Transphobia, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

corabookworm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I honestly thought this book was 5-star worthy for the most part. The writing was fantastic, the historical elements interesting but not boring, the story fast paced, and the plot intriguing. The explicit sex scenes threw me off and, due to personal preference, lowered the rating of the book to 4 stars. But otherwise I really liked it! If you're looking for short, queer horror with elements of religion, romance, monsters, and history, this one's pretty damn good!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Murder, Body horror, and Transphobia

Moderate: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Confinement

Sexual assault is referenced/implied multiple times but never shown on page. There are pretty explicit sex scenes, so if that kind of stuff makes you uncomfortable, skip these parts:

pg. 100/65% ish and pg. 132/86%

. There's also pretty gory stuff, which is worst at:

85%/pg. 130ish

nostoat's review against another edition

5.0

I feel like a wild horse, a feral beast, a completely untamable creature streaking through a forest. This book starts with the feeling of oppressive humidity and looming mountains, everything crowding close around; too close too close. There's a copper and iron taste, from the biting of the tongue. 

This book ends with the tang of fresh red blood and earthy soil, the smell of woodsmoke. The queer laughter of two "degenerates" bouncing through the trees. I can taste this book, smell this book, feel this book on my skin. This book is a bloody middle finger to the insular, backwards-thinking Christian communities all around us. Cheers to Lee Mandelo for this one! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual assault

fairytalefootnotes's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes, etc: Small Town, Place Personified, Religious Persecution, Revenge, Transgender MC, Transgender Love Interest

3rd Act Breakup?: No

The Praise: This book gave an interesting glimpse into the experience of a transgender man in the 1920s and paired that with eerie horror and sweet romance. It was well-written and I really loved the ending!

The Critique: I would’ve liked to know more about Spar Creek and its whole deal.

Final Thoughts: This wasn’t my typical kind of read but I really enjoyed it! Especially the ending.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Gun violence, Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Blood, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Rape, Animal death, Abortion, Confinement, and Pregnancy