Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Squad, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

24 reviews

emilysreadingbooks's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Sexual violence

gothmiku's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Blood

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, and Lesbophobia

thebookbin's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

4.5

 At work yesterday I finished Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. This is a YA graphic novel, which I would describe as a teen revenge fantasy à la Jennifer's Body. Becca has just moved to a new school and she's desperate to fit in. When she gives a stranger a tampon in the bathroom, she is launched into a whole new life wherein she is initiated into a pack of man-eating werewolves. Except these werewolves are a pack of teenage girls. The story is a lot darker than I'd expect, and honestly I thought it would be a lot better as an adult graphic novel rather than YA. In order to keep it YA they gloss over a lot of the horror elements, which almost makes it even more horror-y but unintentionally.

Spoiler

When the pack alpha upsets the leader of another pack, they kill her and Becca and her girlfriend eat her heart out, literally so they can stop being werewolves. Then Becca and her girlfriend go on a date to homecoming lol.

 

I mean I did like the themes of female rage, and I definitely appreciated how they only went after sleazy guys, but the fact that they couldn't confront some themes and plot elements because it was YA really took away from it for me. 
Overall I think I'm a fan of this sapphic spooky read, I just wish it embraced itself in all its gory glory. 

4.5/5 eat your heart out stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Sexual harassment

kristakp's review

mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Body horror, and Sexism

Minor: Lesbophobia and Alcohol

annasbuecherbeet's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Bullying, Racism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Violence

itsheyfay's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Injury/injury detail, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Minor: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Bullying, and Infidelity

faduma's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

birthisacurse's review

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, and Body horror

Minor: Sexual harassment and Fatphobia

ednam0dewannabe's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

3.5

This was an interesting, light and entertaining read. Despite becoming confusing in certain panels, the narrative is straightforward and clear. I loved the art style and the lgbtq+ representation (we need more of it) but I found the pacing too fast, leaving neither characters nor readers a minute to digest any new information or emotions. In conclusion, if you want a light and entertaining read I recommend this graphic novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Injury/injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, Racism, Vomit, and Lesbophobia