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cryptidstar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
5.0
This book was so goood! as a queer ex swimmer also obsessed with mermaids (to a less intense degree) I was super excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. I feel like even though sewing your legs together and ultimately escaping into the water to be a real life mermaid is most definitely unhinged, it’s also the kind of unhinged that I think really represents the feeling of being a high achieving, mentally ill, queer high schooler. My least favorite part of the book was Ren and Cathy’s relationship simply because Ren clearly didn’t actually care for Cathy. I wish Ess was in the story for longer, but then again I also think smoking more weed might have made changed Ren’s trajectory a little too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Sexual harassment
faeriefangss's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, Gore, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Blood, Drug use, Body horror, and Emotional abuse
_delaney_'s review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Body horror
catandherbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Do you know that feeling when you know (or should know) that something is coming yet you're utterly surprised when it does? That's sort of what reading this book feels like.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Body horror
Moderate: Blood
letterpress's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
I think I am still trying to get my mind around what I just read. So I am giving it 4 stars, I think?
At the start of this book you meet Ren Yu, a girl that born for the water. It starts with a love for mermaids and joining the swim team, it then slowly evolves into something else. This is a coming of age story that deals with tons of problems and pressures of being a teenage girl, both physically and mentally.
This book doesn’t have tons of dialogue but that could be by design Ren is so obsessed and driven she doesn’t really need anyone else. Even though she does have a best friend in Cathy who she tolerates best among everyone. As you read it is very easy to get deeper up into her all in mentality and slow entry into reality of becoming a mermaid.
Another really good novel by a debut author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Body horror, Dysphoria, Bullying, Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gore, Body shaming, Drug use, Cursing, Self harm, and Sexual content
nikzzz3's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Self harm
mangokiin's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, and Self harm
pixie_d's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Sexual content, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
kalldaff's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
4.5
Soooo disturbing, but it was literally recommended to me because of the disturbing ending scene :..) if I had a nickel for every anthropomorphic sapphic coming of age novel with body horror I've read I'd have three nickels... which isn't a lot etc etc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism
sidekicksam's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
3.75
Ren Yu is coming of age against the sharp chemicals of chlorine in the pool water. A tale of obsession, competitive sport, adolescence, racism, misogyny and friendship/love, this was a wild ride of an audiobook to listen to. Gory and a bit grotesque, I felt the book explored the harrowing conditions of the human experience and the need to escape it beautifully. Not necessarily horrific but more harrowing, this was exactly the kind of weird story I was hoping it would be!
Lovers of books like The Pisces, Bunny and The Vegetarian will definitely love this one!
Lovers of books like The Pisces, Bunny and The Vegetarian will definitely love this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, and Sexual assault