Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

93 reviews

kkalicky94's review

challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Animal death, Grief, Misogyny, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

crystalgem's review

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

1.5

I couldn’t get over how poorly written this was. The main character is probably the most bland, unlikeable character I’ve ever read about, and the absolute clusterfuck of a plot is honestly terrible. What was the point of any of it? So many twists and turns, none of them surprising or meaningful.

The whole book is quite serious and then we have a character saying things like “queef” as a joke. She kills her aunt by stuffing porcelain statues down her throat and somehow when she becomes a ghost, she’s cracking jokes and hovering around like this is a Disney movie.

Why are we referencing demons and religion, but then none of that is even relevant, however reincarnation - oh, that part is real. Seeing ghosts? Real. Oh wait, and the ghosts are actually furies, not ghosts. You know, from Greek mythology. Throw that in there. And they can touch people (only if someone encourages them, though.) And it’s a book about middle age - actually, no, it’s a book about misogyny. Wait, no, it’s a book about accepting death. Except, okay, it’s actually about - ope, I just realized I don’t care.

After reading the mention of Azazel, I was hoping we’d see some cool theological horror a la Hereditary, but alas, that was just me getting my hopes up.

Would not recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

bookish_ann's review

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Gore, and Misogyny

jamieleepilk's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

mondovertigo's review

dark funny tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Gore, Body horror, and Body shaming

Moderate: Sexual violence and Kidnapping

Minor: Excrement

mpurdy's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Wow I was definitely creeped out. The writing gives you the creeps forsure and the story was unique and was invested in what would happen. There were funny moments and some extremely disturbing ones that will live in my brain rent free. That being said there are some things that prevent me from giving it a higher rating. First I think it was a little long winded the pace is kinda irratic it goes slow and then fast and than medium and then fast. The next things are spoilers 

first the harvest scene I feel like the cactus being inserted into the victims vagina was not needed to show the fanaticism of this cult. I feel like it was too much. I felt it was more for shock value and unnecessary violence towards women when there was already enough. Next the fact that the only person that's not white becomes the framed person for the crime. I understand the convience for it because it was her Easter event but why is literally no one else's race mentioned but hers?

Now on the topic of a Cis man writing about Menopausal women I think he did a pretty decent job but I am nowhere near Menopause so I may not be the audience to comment. I live in Arizona and found it fun to be reading about something like this happening as I have scene small towns here that can provide a good setting for this. Lastly I was raised in Montana and when he says as dark as a Montana Midnight I felt that. Lol
All in all it was a wild time and I think alot of people can enjoy this but please read the authors note and do research on the trigger warnings for this book has many. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Animal death, Violence, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual violence, Medical content, Gore, and Body horror

Moderate: Death, Bullying, and Body shaming

Minor: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

This is a dark read be prepared for it.

danaslitlist's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I want to preface my review by stating upfront how much I admired and respect the author and how he wrote this book. He put a lot of care into it and I can feel the respect he has towards the audience from the start to the end.

Mary is a slow burn, ‘is it in her head’ paranormal suspense/horror. I don’t tend to enjoy slow burn thrillers/horrors but I devoured 60% of this book in one day and then the rest the next day. And it help my attention until the 80% marker. From here I began to find my mind wandering while listening to the audiobook. Then I was gripped again until the last 10% where I felt as if the ending was just handed over to the reader. Especially in regards to any justice being served or real closure.

<I’m  also not a fan of the only person of color in the book being framed for the massacre and there’s absolutely no sense of the justice. Or if she was truly involved in the massacre at all.</

Overall this was an an interesting read, I had a good time and found myself shocked at some of the events which is why I’m giving it a solid 3 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Gore, Mental illness, and Sexism

Moderate: Animal death

caidyn's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

What an odd little book. I know that the author says he was inspired by Carrie, but this was more like Dolores Claiborne to me. It's very weird and definitely not what I expected, yet in a good way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Body horror

messy678's review

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, and Misogyny

lizunfair's review

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, Body horror, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny