Reviews

One Hand to Hold, One Hand to Carve by M. Shaw

squidshroom's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.25

This has to be top 3 saddest books I have read (And I read "A Little Life" at the start of the year) however, unlike A Little Life this book didn't feel like an authors exercise in making the most miserable book they could. 
This book is such a sad and weird little thing. It almost feels like reading a side story, far away from the main plot and self contained in its own little world. 
At no point did I truly know where this absurd story would go and each time it surprised me more. Hard to put down and incredibly sad lol 

Left continuing to desperately grasp at his "brother" for the rest of eternity is a haunting idea that will probably keep me thinking about this book for a lot longer than it took me to finish it.

hagganmaggan's review

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.5

poisoned_icecream's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad

• 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

5.0

This is one of the strangest and most unique horror and magical realism novellas I have ever read. It is the story of Left and Right, two halves of a man who was cut in half. They have no memory of who they were before they were separated, but still manage to build a life together until one of them decides to put distance between himself and his brother. I love this delightfully strange book and I am so grateful to Tenebrous Press for publishing it. <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Abandonment, and Body horror

blackmetalblackheart's review against another edition

4.0

One Hand to Hold, One Hand to Carve, like its cover, is beautiful and grotesque, a story that explores humanity, connection, and desire through the lens of a cadaver split down the middle, both halves alive and grappling with the kind of existential questions we have all faced from time to time. I loved watching these characters evolve and find themselves, both in relation to and separate from the other half. Shaw does a great job of detailing the story. I was able to picture it all clearly in my head. It was cool to see the way the story unfolds, fun to see what the author chose to reveal. The interludes between chapters was a strong narrative choice that enhanced the experience. I liked everything about this one.

goodnekovibes's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.75

superhawk610's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I was not expecting to like this nearly as much as I did! While it’s very much a horror novella, it has a significant

fantasy

element as well. I kept finding myself reminded of Neil Gaiman’s work throughout. This work deals very subtly with surviving family trauma and toxic codependency. It kept me waiting to find what happened next til the very end, and it comes in at a very approachable length. I loved it!

booksasmeals's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely devoured this book. LOVED is not a strong enough word :) It's one part bizarro, one part horror, split right down the middle.

Can't wait to read more from M. Shaw!

dreweire's review

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

A dark reflection on what we owe to our families, and what we owe to ourselves, with some disturbing body horror. Somewhere between a fairy tale, a folk story, and a dream

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Eating disorder

firstorderpixie's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

5.0

iphigenie72's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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? Yes

5.0