Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

6 reviews

dijigoo53's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

An incredible portrait of the mundane horrors of being middle-aged and the psychological pitfalls that accompany it. While conventional horror tropes are used throughout, at no point does the book become "predictable." This book blew me out of the water! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Mental illness, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Dysphoria, Bullying, and Body shaming

Minor: Animal death, Vomit, and Sexual content

_meeg's review against another edition

NGL dude this one was just too brutal for me. Felt too unwell to justify continuing reading after the cactus scene.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Sexism, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Grief, Suicide, Death, Murder, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Cursing, Excrement, Gore, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

novel_grace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I went in expecting to love this book, and was still surprised by just HOW much I enjoyed it (as much as you can enjoy something this bloody). Despite this being a story hugely about a struggle for identity and reality and personhood, Mary had such a  distinct voice, that only got sharper and more defined as the book went along.

I was truly shocked when I realized a third of the way in that the author is a man, because it truly handled topics of womanhood with the subtly and honesty I would expect from someone who has experienced it first hand. The authors note preceding the book and the afterword truly put this book over the top for me. 

Beyond the incredibly valid and important discussions of patriarchy and womanhood, this book truly succeeds as a horror story. It was so CREEPY in so many way. I had to stop reading it at night because it unnerved me so much. 

Thrilling and genuine and terrifying and surprisingly heartfelt - this might be my new favorite horror novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

jkar7's review

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I almost DNFed this book, but then there was a hook that got me. I'm glad I finished! There were parts of this that really creeped me out, but also parts that made me laugh. Mary sometimes felt relatable and her inner-monolgue was sometimes funny, and other times super depressing and hard to read. 
But please, don't make the same mistake as me. Do not read the afterword.
And DEFINITELY check content warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Medical content, Vomit, Confinement, Violence, and Medical trauma

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking

crispr_breadboard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

This book was incredible. Gory, lots of triggers, but the careful lens of looking at a peri-menopause woman deeply embedded in the toxic patriarchy WHILE STILL being a book about religion, sexism, ageism, and horror? Phew. It was a great book. 

Another impressive note— the author wrote with notable care and sensitivity about menopause- he has also written an afterword discussing the very real and complex topic of whether a man should even be *allowed* to write about the topic with such core themes around womanhood, menopause, and self identity. He did a fantastic job, which he acknowledges is also thanks to his editor and her team of sensitivity readers. Great work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Gore, Grief, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Murder, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Cursing, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Fatphobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Excrement, and Death of parent

Also has creepy scenes about insects too.

kittyinatophat's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.75

You go girls

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Animal death, Violence, Sexual content, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Body horror, and Misogyny