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saturn_rage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The stream-of-consciousness that is much of this book works well for the characters and the subject matter, and also gives you a sense of the existential anxiety lacing the entire narrative, something that seeps into you the reader as well (at least for me). Anyhow, I did like this, though it comes with a whole load of content warnings and my stomach is pretty strong. It taps into some parts of me that I should explore more, and is very topical given the current climate I am struggling to exist in.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Drug abuse, Excrement, Blood, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Transphobia, Vomit, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Child abuse
iceperg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Bullying, Body shaming, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Deadnaming, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Rape, Gore, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Infertility, Excrement, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Mental illness, Hate crime, Fatphobia, Dysphoria, and Drug use
devsreadsnrambles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I am an avid horror fan. This book made me squeamish and want to clean my brain. I loved the not so subtle topic of trans-gender folx experiences in the UK and the cost of the lack of empathy and humanity they are treated with. This story is not for the feint of heart. But I believe it is so damn important to read. If you think you're uncomfortable reading this? Imagine how a trans person feels just living their life.
I would 100% read again. I have read Alison's previous book Tell Me I'm Worthless and while I didn't enjoy it AS much, I think Alison is an incredible writer.
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Body shaming
trashgobby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Deadnaming, Body horror, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Violence, Sexism, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gore
Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Death of parent, Excrement, Alcohol, Incest, Violence, Child abuse, Infertility, Abandonment, Eating disorder, and Classism
jemmers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Drug use, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Excrement, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Body shaming, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Abortion, Alcohol, Body horror, Cannibalism, Classism, Death, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
catatlanta's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Dysphoria, Body horror, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Rape, Classism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Gore, Outing, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Blood, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
maecaitlin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I had to take multiple breathers and breaks to get through due to how graphic the horror is. But, it’s a really effective analysis of the horror of this TERF Island.
The only reason this hasn’t been rated higher is that I’m not a massive fan of how the book sometimes structurally derails itself into rambles every now and again. Sometimes the portrayals of kink were just too much for my innocent mind.
I would not recommend this to any of my friends or family as I fear they would have their opinion forever changed of me, and I feel that’s a good sign of a strong horror.
Graphic: Blood, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Excrement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Body horror, Dysphoria, and Gore
vixenreader's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Death, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Excrement, Gore, Murder, Rape, Deadnaming, Infertility, Medical content, Violence, Body shaming, Transphobia, Blood, Cursing, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Vomit
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Outing, Suicide, Child death, Classism, Incest, Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
Minor: Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Racism, Animal death, Stalking, and Antisemitism
Be aware that this is frank depictions of parasitic infestations with human bodies, urine, water sports, scat-play, anal sex, cyberbullying, online harassment, bombing, terrorism, eating and inserting excrement, fisting, running away from home, homicide, and extreme TERF behaviour.danimacuk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
two thumbs up
Graphic: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Vomit
Moderate: Blood, Dysphoria, Excrement, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
bohemian_yogini's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Excrement, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Body horror, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, and Sexual content
Moderate: Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Violence
Not for the squeamish. A shamelessly refreshing — and compulsive — exploration of political terrorism through the lens of deeply unorthodox lifestyles. This book oozes with a parasitic quality that is sure to linger after you’ve finished.