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readingwithgoose's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
zalilymoan'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
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Torture and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault, Abortion, and War
flamesocks'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and War
pagesofash'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent and Pregnancy
qpqdelia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia, Torture, Excrement, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War
quinntillion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and War
brookiehew'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: War
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
emready's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The descriptions of gore were a bit too much for me personally. And the age gap (30 and 18) between
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and War
mreadsbooks's review
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Confinement, Racism, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
crybabybea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This didn't go where I was expecting it to go but it was still fun. It's less monster/eldritch horror and more psychological. Although there is a monster and they do
The writing was really well done, and Lee Mandelo crafted a great sense of immersion. The setting was so perfect for a story like this; 1920s Appalachia, small conservative town for our trans main character. Horrifying. I do wish that the horror came more from Appalachian folklore but that's me wanting something completely different out of this book because I misled myself about the direction of the story.
That being said, I felt like the horror elements worked perfectly for the story and the horror imagery tied in well with the themes of queer identity and religious bigotry. I wish this wasn't a novella, and we could spend a bit more time with some scenes and characters, but at the same time the fast pace helps add to the claustrophobic feeling. It felt super cinematic and tense! The main character has an interesting backstory that could have been explored more in a longer novel.
For me the only thing I really didn't like was the age gap between the main characters. That's honestly a minor thing but it bugged me a bit.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and War