Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Boys In the Valley by Philip Fracassi

17 reviews

jesssicawho's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Lord of the Flies meets The Exorcist. This was creepy and weird and would make a great movie. My one complaint is that it doesn't touch upon the origin or desires of the evil/demon (other than wreaking havoc and mayhem). That felt very surface level - evil for the sake of being evil. 

I was impressed by how well written some of the characters were. They felt multi-layered and empathetic, even if (some) were despicable. The ending was touching.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

takecoverbooksptbo's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

Despite some misgivings about how Fracassi resolves the conflict between the real-world harms Catholic institutions have inflicted and the spiritual salvation that the religion offers, this book rules. As possession narratives go, you’d be hard pressed to find a book that is paced this well and also finds time to develop characters, mood, and dread. There are some very scary, unsettling moments in this story. I’d highly recommend it if you want an action-packed horror story that will tug at your heart-strings a little bit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Confinement, Murder, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Self harm, and Grief

meggles801's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

Read. This. Book. 
Oh my god. 
Just read it. 
Check your TWs first, but then,
JUST READ IT. 
Are you still reading this review? Why?!
Go read Boys in the Valley! 
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Confinement, Murder, and Child death

the_rainydayreader's review

dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death and Domestic abuse

killmoore_'s review

dark sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I could not have loved this more. Truly terrifying, and at times completely gut wrenching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Vomit

kirrarrik's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Blood, Death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Gun violence, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Physical abuse, Murder, and Death of parent

purstiltski's review

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Very violent, with a lil philosophy on humanity and good and evil. I really enjoyed the writing and sometimes just stopped to appreciate a good sentence (whether actually pleasant... or visceral and gross). 

"His smile wavers, and for a moment he thinks the boy's face flickers, becomes indistinct, as if covered in gray mold. But then the face returns, and he's just a boy again. Or what was one."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Bullying

kkalicky94's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Suicide

kermit_the_wrong's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gore, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Torture

ashmcdaniel1621's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gore, and Death of parent