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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
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Murder, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Blood, Gore, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Vomit
Moderate: Incest, Self harm, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Dysphoria
hamletslover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Dysphoria, Drug abuse, Drug use, Deadnaming, Alcohol, Violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Body horror, Blood, Abandonment, Vomit, Torture, Suicide, Physical abuse, Grief, Excrement, Child abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Outing, Infertility, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Classism, and Child death
yassassin'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Now onto the review. If you've read Rumfitt's book Tell Me I'm Worthless, you'll probably soon realize that Brainwyrms uses a different metaphor for the same issues: rising transphobia in the UK and the far-right radicalization pipeline. This isn't either praise or critique, in my opinon both metaphors work well to take you on a rollecoaster of feeling disgusted and terrified by the supernatural horrors, only to realize the segments accurately depicting reality are just as horrific. After all, what is a dangerous idea you find online other than a vicious worm trying to slither its way into your brain and multiply?
Then there is the other component of the novel: a very deep, detailed dive into extreme kink, mixed with a good portion of body horror and absolute psychological f*ckery. Even if I didn't let it get to me too much, I won't pretend like I didn't struggle to make it through certain chapters. I'm not completely convinced all of it was necessary, even in a horror novel.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Incest, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Child abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Violence, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcohol, Medical content, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Addiction, Blood, and Pregnancy
mandi_lea'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
3.0
Graphic: Incest, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Mental illness, Body horror, Child death, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Deadnaming, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
a_beautiful_soup'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
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Violence, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Body horror, Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Incest, Rape, Pedophilia, and Fatphobia
chelseakado's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Body horror, Medical content, Excrement, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Body shaming
Minor: Incest and Deadnaming
hydecircus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Kidnapping, Transphobia, Murder, Body shaming, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Incest, Body horror, Pregnancy, Rape, Classism, Physical abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Cursing, Deadnaming, and Hate crime
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Animal death
grimdark_dad'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
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Eating disorder, Incest, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Gore, Rape, Child abuse, Transphobia, Excrement, Fatphobia, and Vomit
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Body horror, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Rape, Blood, Drug use, Mental illness, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, Deadnaming, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Excrement, Incest, Transphobia, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Chronic illness, Death of parent, War, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Trafficking, and Antisemitism