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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book has such a great premise, it reads like the author heard the dumb rhetoric transphobic men genuinely believe, that all trans women and feminists are out to emasculate them and cut their dicks off…
and then said “hey that’s not a bad idea”
but unfortunately IN PRACTICE… god this book is such a slog. The justification and processes through which Dorley force-feminises its captives is shoved thoroughly into the background in service of a meandering slice of life melodrama about characters who have already gone through the process and are actually pretty chill about it, all things considered. They all pretty much agree that while it was a bit unethical, they are actually much happier to be not just women, but stereotypically feminine women.
The saving grace is the ‘main character’ Stef is great, and infiltrates Dorley of her own free will as she is secretly trans and wants to have all the work done for free. Again though, unfortunately, her story is heavily sidelined and little to no progress is made on her transition by the end of the book.
Maybe the rest of the series brings it all to a satisfying conclusion, but this first entry does not inspire me with confidence enough to continue.
and then said “hey that’s not a bad idea”
but unfortunately IN PRACTICE… god this book is such a slog. The justification and processes through which Dorley force-feminises its captives is shoved thoroughly into the background in service of a meandering slice of life melodrama about characters who have already gone through the process and are actually pretty chill about it, all things considered. They all pretty much agree that while it was a bit unethical, they are actually much happier to be not just women, but stereotypically feminine women.
The saving grace is the ‘main character’ Stef is great, and infiltrates Dorley of her own free will as she is secretly trans and wants to have all the work done for free. Again though, unfortunately, her story is heavily sidelined and little to no progress is made on her transition by the end of the book.
Maybe the rest of the series brings it all to a satisfying conclusion, but this first entry does not inspire me with confidence enough to continue.
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A tender transfemme dormitory slice-of-life in an absolutely wild setting; strong social commentary, fun in-jokes, and much to contemplate. Also an absolutely excellent cast of characters whose decisions are both understandable and had me yelling (CHRISTINE, what are you DOING??)
Marked down slightly for pacing issues: the opening setup felt rushed, and the middle meandering – understandable flaws for a work originally serialized.
How dare you make me like Aaron, too!
This book surprised me. In hindsight, I thought readers were in for something more like Grandmother's time – and I can only respect the decision by the author not to go there, nor to lean in to the cheap man-hating we might've had.
I wish it didn't surprise me to see a novel feature full-throated condemnation of violence against women in all its normalized forms; more works should go there, and you don't need a torture basement to say it.
I don't know that this book is going to change anyone's minds, but it bears saying: Bloodborne is a great game.
Marked down slightly for pacing issues: the opening setup felt rushed, and the middle meandering – understandable flaws for a work originally serialized.
How dare you make me like Aaron, too!
This book surprised me. In hindsight, I thought readers were in for something more like Grandmother's time – and I can only respect the decision by the author not to go there, nor to lean in to the cheap man-hating we might've had.
I wish it didn't surprise me to see a novel feature full-throated condemnation of violence against women in all its normalized forms; more works should go there, and you don't need a torture basement to say it.
I don't know that this book is going to change anyone's minds, but it bears saying: Bloodborne is a great game.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexism
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Alcohol
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's Dorley fucking Hall
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Phenomenal, but do not mess around with the content warnings. Can't wait to talk to my therapist about this.
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
the concept of this book is really compelling, and i really enjoyed the characters and the author's approach to it. i thought the prose fell a bit flat and didn't really seem to fit the book, but that's partially because i read it immediately after finishing the charioteer and it took me a second to adjust to this book's very different style. since finishing the book has stuck in my head and i keep wanting to know more, so that's a success to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content
This book is fundamentally about forced feminization/forcefem.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes