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smcaleerforte's review against another edition
I —
I have no idea what to rate this… 🫣
I have no idea what to rate this… 🫣
chronikle's review against another edition
2.0
I read the majority of this on a train (ill-advised) and looked so disconcerted and/or ill at one part that a crewmember asked if I was okay.
Extreme horror is not really my thing as a reader. That said, I saw this on a bookshelf in a store, and it immediately gave me brain worms about it until I went back and bought it the other day. Won't be rereading it or recommending it to anyone else (because my friends are also not really extreme horror readers), but I do think Rumfitt's focus on contemporary Britain and the rise of fascism (in its myriad forms, but particularly TERFism) is really interesting as a concept, both here and in her earlier work, Tell Me I'm Worthless.
I do kind of wish the brainwyrms had been more prominent earlier in the book, however. I feel like it took a long time to get to where we were going, and then it kind of just ran face-first into a wall and left me feeling a little like Oh. Was that it? That said, the ending reminds me a lot of both Brian Yuzna's Society and Frank Herbert's Dune combined into a horrible baby, so I didn't hate it.
If you are gonna check it out--Rumfitt helpfully supplies content warnings at the start of the book, and I would strongly advise you heed those warnings.
Extreme horror is not really my thing as a reader. That said, I saw this on a bookshelf in a store, and it immediately gave me brain worms about it until I went back and bought it the other day. Won't be rereading it or recommending it to anyone else (because my friends are also not really extreme horror readers), but I do think Rumfitt's focus on contemporary Britain and the rise of fascism (in its myriad forms, but particularly TERFism) is really interesting as a concept, both here and in her earlier work, Tell Me I'm Worthless.
I do kind of wish the brainwyrms had been more prominent earlier in the book, however. I feel like it took a long time to get to where we were going, and then it kind of just ran face-first into a wall and left me feeling a little like Oh. Was that it? That said, the ending reminds me a lot of both Brian Yuzna's Society and Frank Herbert's Dune combined into a horrible baby, so I didn't hate it.
If you are gonna check it out--Rumfitt helpfully supplies content warnings at the start of the book, and I would strongly advise you heed those warnings.
saturn_rage's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Fucking hell this stressed me out. I originally started it months ago, read about the first third, and took a prolonged indefinite break due to the anxiety it brewed in me. Anyhow, on returning I finished it in two days, so take that for what you will.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
mystifiedbulb22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pure insanity shoved into a book. It doesn't always nail the political beats it's trying to hit, but it is enjoyable and disgusting in equal measure.
arlenren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Visceral, provocative, revolting. Don't make the mistake I did and start reading this on the train; you do NOT want anyone looking over your shoulder. Once I'd found a more suitable place to read it, I couldn't put it down. This book pulls no punches as it lays out the threat that trans people face in the UK today, unflinching in a portrayal that remains truthful even through a lens of conspiratorial fantasy. Like all the best horror novels, it has moments of comedy that provide respite from the crushing tension. I went into this book thinking it was going to make me feel sick yet surprisingly it didn't, in spite of how personal some of its triggers are for me. I guess there's something wrong with me?? Luckily, there's nothing wrong with this book. If you have a strong stomach and an open mind, this is a faultless read. Easiest five stars I've given in a long time. (Please do check the trigger warnings though).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Body shaming, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, and Drug use
ejkimberley's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book I could not blame any given person for loving or hating respectively. Because for many, it will be a "rough go", which contains too much and too constant a burden of unpleasantness for the work as a whole to be enjoyed. But for others, it will be, like Rumfitt's "Tell Me I'm Worthless", a powerful work of sexual and psychological horror.
In particular, abusive sexual behaviour is a nearly constant factor, in this book. And fetishistic language and activity which many will find unpleasant is effectively its central focus.
I think I have a relatively strong stomach, when it comes to this stuff. And that's why Brainwyrms gets 4 out of 5 stars, in my case. But even I found myself wishing certain scenes and passages would just come to an end much sooner than they did.
Personally, I would have wished for a little more exploration of the science fiction premises and implications behind the "wyrms" themselves. But there is some treatment of that.
All in all, an intentionally and thoughtfully disgusting look at terrible people doing terrible things for largely terrible reasons, in which redemption cannot be reasonably hoped for.
In particular, abusive sexual behaviour is a nearly constant factor, in this book. And fetishistic language and activity which many will find unpleasant is effectively its central focus.
I think I have a relatively strong stomach, when it comes to this stuff. And that's why Brainwyrms gets 4 out of 5 stars, in my case. But even I found myself wishing certain scenes and passages would just come to an end much sooner than they did.
Personally, I would have wished for a little more exploration of the science fiction premises and implications behind the "wyrms" themselves. But there is some treatment of that.
All in all, an intentionally and thoughtfully disgusting look at terrible people doing terrible things for largely terrible reasons, in which redemption cannot be reasonably hoped for.
boxofcats's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
readingwmiles's review against another edition
3.0
i don’t read extreme horror very often and this was definitely that. gross, kinky, disturbing horror. i was invested in these characters and their relationships with each other, something i think rumfitt does really well! she does a great job at painting these messy awful queer characters and still making them endearing. it went a little off the rails at the end though, and just got a little too nasty for me. however i’m glad such gay extreme horror exists for all the freaks out there