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maybephasing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Self harm, Transphobia, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria
Minor: Deadnaming, Suicide, Blood, and Alcohol
shawcrit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, and Dysphoria
Minor: Incest, Rape, Suicide, and Murder
saccharinewoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Sexual assault, Murder, and Dysphoria
devsreadsnrambles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I am an avid horror fan. This book made me squeamish and want to clean my brain. I loved the not so subtle topic of trans-gender folx experiences in the UK and the cost of the lack of empathy and humanity they are treated with. This story is not for the feint of heart. But I believe it is so damn important to read. If you think you're uncomfortable reading this? Imagine how a trans person feels just living their life.
I would 100% read again. I have read Alison's previous book Tell Me I'm Worthless and while I didn't enjoy it AS much, I think Alison is an incredible writer.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Dysphoria
kyullua's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
as with tell me i’m worthless, i loved this book, had to cut some points for the ending as it felt a bit rushed, but honestly still surprised that the last few pages still had me just wanting to say “what the actual fuck”
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Self harm, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Vomit
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Dysphoria
hamletslover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
5.0
———
A 'shocking, grotesque, and downright filthy body horror novel' from Alison Rumfitt, okay just imprint on my soul before this book is even out then fuck
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
andyjnmcrae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A gut wrenching, stomach turning, allegory for the hate against trans people that is being allowed to grow in society. Brainwyrms looks at hate as a parasite, conformity as self punishment (through extreme -and I mean extreme- kinks and domination) and what it means to be a “good” or “bad” trans person. As always both end in suffering, neither end in respect, and it’s all about how well you play their game. Rumfit demonstrates how hate will either
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Transphobia, and Murder
yassassin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Now onto the review. If you've read Rumfitt's book Tell Me I'm Worthless, you'll probably soon realize that Brainwyrms uses a different metaphor for the same issues: rising transphobia in the UK and the far-right radicalization pipeline. This isn't either praise or critique, in my opinon both metaphors work well to take you on a rollecoaster of feeling disgusted and terrified by the supernatural horrors, only to realize the segments accurately depicting reality are just as horrific. After all, what is a dangerous idea you find online other than a vicious worm trying to slither its way into your brain and multiply?
Then there is the other component of the novel: a very deep, detailed dive into extreme kink, mixed with a good portion of body horror and absolute psychological f*ckery. Even if I didn't let it get to me too much, I won't pretend like I didn't struggle to make it through certain chapters. I'm not completely convinced all of it was necessary, even in a horror novel.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol