Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás

81 reviews

kaywhiteley's review

challenging dark slow-paced

• 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

4.5

The first half was extremely slow but it uh, it sure did pick up

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Torture

Minor: Rape

darthulios's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book destroyed me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood

jellegolas's review

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Alcohol

bkwrm1317's review

Was reading this book for Indie Ink 2023-24 for the "Writing the Future We Need: Latinx/e Representation by a Latine/x Author." At 71% of the way through the novel, there were exceedingly brief mentions of skin color, and one reference to drinking yerba mate (the only direct reference to Latinidad to that point in the novel). Otherwise, there were no real references to Latinidad/Latine identity, so this book did not feel a good fit for this category. 

At nearly 3/4 of the way through the novel, I preferred to spend my time for Indie Ink on other novels that needed additional readers and might fit the category better. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Self harm, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

gooseberry420's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

rmnedder's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

As a recovering ex-catholic queer... this book was absolutely beautiful. Such a wonderful take on the fall of Lucifer. It's tragic, it's introspective, and it needles you with pointed questions about authority and autonomy. The prose is really imaginative and atmospheric; it literally feels biblical in its nature and scope. Despite the intensity of some of the content, I feel like everything was handled with a lot of grace and care. Lucifer is one of the most interesting, complex characters I've encountered this year; his relationship with the other angels, specifically with Michael, are so tender and impactful. 

My only complaint is that it took me a minute to get truly invested; it started out a little slower than I would have liked, but after the first ~25% it really picked up. Other than that, this was such a fantastic read. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that queerness exists in all corners of mythology.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Death and Alcohol

wolfst4r's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Cursing, Incest, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

neoqueerserenity's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

biobeetle's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content and War

Minor: Rape

kimberlyflwrs's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

˚✧⁀➷ 5 stars

“i waited for your touch to save me.”

there are no words to explain the masterpiece of this book is, i can try, but i’m afraid i won’t do it any justice. i desperately need every word this book engraved deeply into my bones. the intense amount of joy and pain I felt while witnessing the rise and fall of lucifer is unlike anything i’ve ever read or felt before. 

the themes of identity, religious trauma, sexuality, desire and doubt were portrayed in this novel so perfectly. not to mention the prose was so lyrical and hauntingly beautiful. 

i fear this book has rendered me speechless. just know that i will read anything rafael nicolás writes 🤲🏻

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Violence