Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

103 reviews

haylee_reads's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.0

I love horror, but I don’t think this is my brand of horror. It’s no lie that Enriquez is talented in their craft, but I don’t think I will read anything else they write. These stories all had interesting premises, but the level of gore was just next level and felt unnecessary at times. I also think that every story just ended so abruptly that it really threw me off. I know that’s usually the case with short stories, but it took me a second to realize when each story ended.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Blood, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Drug use, Excrement, and Vomit

miraveta's review against another edition

dark

4.0

kinda funny how 'the dangers of smoking in bed' is the least interesting story in this. I've probably got to go back and read this all in Spanish sometime.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Child death

Moderate: Pedophilia, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Excrement, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

witcheep's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Terminal illness, and Sexual content

Minor: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

bookforestsprite's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Ive never read anything like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Gore, Death of parent, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Body horror, Blood, and Addiction

Moderate: Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

gusabus's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was an absolutely mesmerising read. It's disturbing, chilling, and entrancing; I came away from each story a little shaken and thinking about it before sleep, which is what I want from an anthology. Highly recommended for any fans of unnatural literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual violence, Body horror, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Pedophilia

jess_xen's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

 I wish I had read this closer to spooky season, because it is such a mood dampener. I do not recommend for spring reading.

Mariana's Enriquez's The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a collection of horrific stories drenched in magical realism. This is my first book by Enriquez after hearing such praise for The Things We Lost in the Fire. I wish I had started with the latter.

Some of the short stories were very abrasive and not in a "this is good horror" kind of way, more in the vein of "how to make this as disgusting as possible". I couldn't find a point for the disgust other than to be disgusting. Perhaps that was because I am unfamiliar with South American folk tales and lack a background in the region's particular style of storytelling.

I thought I would like it more than I did.

**Content Warning: Death/sexual violence/transphobia** 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, Transphobia, and Child death

gna_again's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Excrement, Addiction, Blood, Rape, Medical content, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Death, Child death, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Violence, Self harm, Pedophilia, Murder, and Mental illness

veposve's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Pedophilia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Excrement, Body horror, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Death, Sexual violence, Rape, Medical content, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Child death

Moderate: Cannibalism

annilikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It's a wild read but definitely captivating. I really enjoyed the pace and I'm positive some stories will always stay with me. The only frustrating part was that some stories ended without a crescendo and it felt like a little let done. But overall a very dark book but one to get back into reading. But read with caution.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Suicide, Self harm, and Murder

nefarious_rat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.75

collection of short stories so character progression and such is difficult, but within each story the characters were distinct and never felt rushed, some of the stories were not to my taste but still very well written, favourites are, our lady of the quarry, the well, the lookout (particularly the characterisation of elina), where are you dear heart (grotesque and delicious my absolute favourite i keep re-reading it), and meat (a very close second favourite for the exact same reasons)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Addiction, Suicide, Child death, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Police brutality, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abandonment, Cancer, Excrement, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Body horror, Cannibalism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Vomit, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Outing, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Biphobia, Cancer, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Confinement