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maddie_oz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Deadnaming, Gore, Sexism, Transphobia, Blood, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
pixelatedlenses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abortion
vixenreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Outing, War, and Classism
Minor: Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
A majority of graphic content in this novel addresses transphobia, abhorrent ableism against autistic folks, misogyny/sexism (the “biology” argument), nasty surgeries, medical content and trauma, physical abuse and violence, and sexual abuse. Any minor in the novel is aged 14-16. It also features familial rejection, pus, stitching up wounds, a graphic abortion, self-mutilation, execution, and a ton of injuries and gore involving glass. It can be a hard read at times.xeve's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Minor: Chronic illness and Abandonment
brittneyn125's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Physical abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
“We are the same species. We're all human. It's not that people cannot understand me; it's simply that most of them don't want to”
This young adult historical gothic horror blew me away. This is the second book I've read by AJW and he has not disappointed me thus far. I will continue to read *anything* he writes, even a grocery list!
Anyway, this story is about 16-year-old Silas Bell, who is our autistic, trans, Violet-eyed protagonist and is struggling to be himself in a world that continues to other him and violently tries to force him into boxes that he simply does not fit into! He is diagnosed with "Veil sickness," which allegedly "spirals women into madness," and Silas is sent to the Braxton’s Sanitorium and Finishing School to prepare him to become an obedient wife. However, since Silas is a medium, he begins to meet the spirits of the students who disappeared at this school, and uncovers the dreadful past that his teachers are hiding.
I listened to the audiobook on Libby and I really enjoyed the narration. Sometimes, the narrator would almost whisper, which felt eerie and gave me chills, but that is not a bad thing. It really added to my reading experience, because there were so many moments in which Silas was deeply uncomfortable and viscerally wincing through the pain others put him through.
The autism representation was a breath of fresh air to find in a historical setting; Silas recognized how his "differences" made others uncomfortable because they didn't understand him. However, he ruminated on why he behaved certain ways and it was not only linked to his stress or frustration; he would also make gestures when he was elated or simply feeling enthusiastic! I appreciated this self-examination and the way Silas tried to normalize and destigmatize it, even if it was only how he thought about it to himself. It's hard to be perceived, but it's such an empowering feeling to boldly know something so fervently inside you.
AJW wrote the scene of Silas' epiphany about Daphne's trans identity so beautifully. It's a subdued moment, yet both Daphne and Silas knew that it was life-changing that they found each other. I rooted for them and this is the kind of stuff that makes you believe in a universal magic that will always allow you to find your chosen family. Their romantic subplot was full of acceptance, empathy, and compassion; if that isn't swoon-worthy, I don't know what is.
Quotations that stood out to me:
“Am I in love with her already? Perhaps. Or maybe I’m just confusing love with comfort, and I’m okay with that. Is there any difference between love and a safe harbor from a storm? Should there be? There are a lot of different kinds of love, and though I may not be able to tell them apart from each other, I appreciate all of them the same.”
“It should be noted that I do not define my manhood through my love of women. There are lots of men who do so: their hunger to dominate feminine things, their power over their wives and daughters, are the building blocks of their maleness. That is not me. Yes, I could love a man if I ever found one who accepts me as I am, and I’ve dreamed of being so lucky—but I love women too. I love women as men are expected to, but the way only one who has ever experienced womanhood can.”
“When something terrible happens—or at least, when you learn about it—it feels like it should affect the entire world. It feels like something should change. But it doesn’t.”
“To separate how you are seen from who you are sometimes feels nigh impossible.”
“They will take being beneath powerful men if it means they are placed above everyone else.”
see content warnings below!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
jupitermaybe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Heavy on transphobia, deadnaming, and grand misgenderment. Heavy on body horror and medical experimentation.kingsteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, and Pregnancy
mlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Sexism, Transphobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage and Self harm
sunflower7skull's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria