Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Dead Inside

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison

76 reviews

hannah_allen's review

dark fast-paced

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

2.0

I believe there are two ways to write a disturbing book. The first way is to develop the characters, their personalities, their backgrounds, etc to give the reader full insight into why each character is the way they are; the story calls for dark scenes because the characters have been intentionally created to be dark people. The second way is to say to yourself, “What are the most disgusting/vile/disturbing things people can do? I want to write those things and have my characters do them.”

Unfortunately, this author chose the latter of these options when writing Dead Inside.

The reader receives limited information about the two main characters and their backgrounds. There isn’t a full-fledged story told- we go from one horrific and gruesome situation to the next, until the book eventually ends. And in my opinion, if an author is going to commit to the dark and disturbing parts of the human psyche, then the author has a responsibility to the reader to write a story, not a series of disturbing happenings loosely woven together with necrophilia and cannibalism.

Aside from the author’s descriptions of the books’ settings, the prose is underwhelming, and the dialogue feels forced. The twist is predictable, but is set up very well throughout the book. The author gives the reader a lovely, ironic dichotomy of the two characters’ “final forms” in the last pages that gives some relief from their grotesque tension. I also enjoyed the brief periods of time I found myself “rooting for” the main character; these were also welcomed reprieves from the book’s (at times) unnecessary graphicness.

With all that being said, I *am* sitting here thinking and talking about this book, and this could very well be one of the author’s goals. In that sense, he did what he set out to do. I just think this book could have been written with a clearer point of view. Maybe I’ve interpreted this in a way it’s not meant to be interpreted, but I will not be re-reading this book to parcel that out.

If you want a much darker, shorter, and more disturbing book with the same vibes as Verity by Colleen Hoover, this *might* be a book worth your time. If you absolutely love body-horror movies, this might be a book worth your time. If you’re looking for something purposefully shocking, this also might be a book worth your time.

TRIGGER WARNINGS (graphic descriptions): necrophilia, cannibalism, sexual assault, rape, abortion, infant death.

Content Warnings

ldy_stnhrt's review

Go to review page

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Content Warnings

thestrayreader's review

Go to review page

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I don't freaking know how to rate this thing because it's written well but it feels like forbidden literature. WTF WAS THAT?!!!! I had to skip a lot because I couldn't stomach the unfolding events involving babies but I couldn't stop because I kept thinking 'there has to be a point, right?!!!'

I need a day, no a year, off of whatever this is. 😭

Content Warnings

magepersephone's review

Go to review page

dark fast-paced

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

2.0

Content Warnings

mossroot's review

Go to review page

challenging dark fast-paced

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

I forced myself to finish this book. Every minute was painful and I almost genuinely (scouts honor) vomited on two occasions. Wanted to see if this type of horror was for me and I grossly underestimated how vile it would actually be. This story does not use its vile actions to further the plot, tell any meaningful story, create any suspense, or make any type of commentary. Truly regret reading this book. It had well written descriptions, don't get me wrong, with a story that was aware of how disgusting it was, but it was not something I enjoyed at all. I am a horror and thriller fan, but this is anything but. This is splatterpunk to the extreme. Reader beware.

I feel incapable of currently giving this book any type of star rating, due to the how absolutely disgusting and vile the subject matter is.

No part of me feels that I can say this book deserves any stars. Fucking a dead baby is just something that I cannot get behind. Not even mentioned off hand, this sex act is VISCERALLY explained. There is no true justice or anything for this MC and it's very bleak and disgusting.

Dead Inside took me a little over two hours to read.

Content Warnings