Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Unwieldy Creatures by Addie Brook Tsai

5 reviews

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• 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

2.5

Interesting themes, but the plot and character motives don't deviate much from Frankenstein -- certain actions seem to be driven only, indeed, by a need to mirror the original narrative. Feels too constrained to its status as a retelling, even sometimes directly quoting the original novel when it doesn't make much sense or fit with the narrative voice, and unfortunately that seems to keep it from delving as deep into the ideas present as it could have.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death, Murder, and Ableism

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Child death, and Misogyny

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Incest, Miscarriage, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Abortion, Suicide, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury

abbie_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.0

I felt like I needed something a little easier to read in the early days of January, when my brain was mushy from work, so I turned to some fantasy/horror-esque fiction in the form of this queer biracial retelling of Frankenstein! It delved deeper into themes of identity & belonging than I expected, but at the same time, didn’t go quite deep enough to be satisfying. It was an enjoyable read in that it was entertaining, but it hasn’t stuck with me hugely. 

The main part that does stick with me now, three weeks after finishing it, is the disbelief I felt at one of the main turning points of the novel.

Dr Frank has perfected her embryo and is almost ready to implant into Hannah, when she realises her now-evil (again, a bit lacklustre in the development there) brother has fertilised it. Blinded by her ambition, she lies to Hannah and implants it anyway, putting a piece of Ezra into her partner without her consent?!?! Hello?? This seems so out of character. Like you just spent months creating this embryo, literally just do it again. The risk vs reward is not adding up here.

I know that the ‘monster’ (Ash in this case, the nonbinary offspring created by Dr Frank) needed motive to become so, but lord it was hard to suspend my disbelief there.

I did really like the little peek into Indonesian culture, specifically with regard to Bugis society where there are five recognised genders. The gender identity aspects of the novel were the most compelling, along with the limits of scientific research, ethics, and how far people are willing to go in the name of ambition. 

A little forgettable, sometimes questionable, not mad I read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Ableism, and Abandonment

Sexual violence here refers to

Dr Frank impregnating her partner with an embryo unknowingly fertilised by a man, against the mother’s specific consent to a spermless, eggless embryo.

solenekeleroux's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

nicolaaa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Blood, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, Incest, Emotional abuse, and Child death

nonbinaryreading's review against another edition

• 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: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Racism, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Murder and Blood