Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt

82 reviews

blulibrarian's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

I like so much of the ideas here and the prose, but the story itself was just not hitting for me. I feel like describing the grossness eclipsed what the grossness was doing.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

Minor: Deadnaming, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Vomit

alexxcp's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

Minor: Ableism and Self harm

woweewhoa's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Excrement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

michaelion's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A perfect snapshot of our era (mid 2010s to mid to late 2020s maybe, we'll see) and not just the darkest parts. The girls that get it GET it okay. So nasty. Pure disgust. Utterly vile. I laughed several times. Wonderful amazing book so nasty I love it. Ew. What a great read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Gaslighting

Minor: Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Suicide attempt, and Cultural appropriation

jully_bean's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I can tell that this book was written with a lot of purpose and thought. I think it really captures chronically online millennial ways of talking. However, it is not for the faint of heart. There’s a ton of body horror.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

kirsty0416's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, and Vomit

This book was disgustingly brilliant, graphic and vile but could not put it down!

saturn_rage's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

Fucking hell this stressed me out. I originally started it months ago, read about the first third, and took a prolonged indefinite break due to the anxiety it brewed in me. Anyhow, on returning I finished it in two days, so take that for what you will. 

The stream-of-consciousness that is much of this book works well for the characters and the subject matter, and also gives you a sense of the existential anxiety lacing the entire narrative, something that seeps into you the reader as well (at least for me). Anyhow, I did like this, though it comes with a whole load of content warnings and my stomach is pretty strong. It taps into some parts of me that I should explore more, and is very topical given the current climate I am struggling to exist in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Excrement, and Vomit

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Kidnapping, and Dysphoria

arlenren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Visceral, provocative, revolting. Don't make the mistake I did and start reading this on the train; you do NOT want anyone looking over your shoulder. Once I'd found a more suitable place to read it, I couldn't put it down. This book pulls no punches as it lays out the threat that trans people face in the UK today, unflinching in a portrayal that remains truthful even through a lens of conspiratorial fantasy. Like all the best horror novels, it has moments of comedy that provide respite from the crushing tension. I went into this book thinking it was going to make me feel sick yet surprisingly it didn't, in spite of how personal some of its triggers are for me. I guess there's something wrong with me?? Luckily, there's nothing wrong with this book. If you have a strong stomach and an open mind, this is a faultless read. Easiest five stars I've given in a long time. (Please do check the trigger warnings though).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

mmmsnacks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

2.0

You know I don’t think this one was for me 🪱

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Incest, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Classism