Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

22 reviews

livlamentloathe's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book had me on edge the whole time but it’s SO deeply satisfying. I grabbed it without knowing much, just cause I’d liked Summer Sons. And oh man did it overwhelm my expectations!!

HIGH recommend to queers, non-cis queer folk especially. Please enjoy this strange, dark tale of justice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Deadnaming, Gore, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Abortion

This book does NOT bury its gays. There is a lot of triggering subject matter but trust me when I say it’s worth it for the ending.

thegayestghost's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I really enjoyed this. My one gripe is I really wish Stevie were older than 18. It makes the sex scenes a little awkward. Besides that it was great!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion

emilyceratops's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

5.0

Excellent!! Perfect amount of spookiness. Some of the hottest sex scenes I've read recently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Bullying, Abortion, and Pregnancy

mmccombs's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

Deliciously dark and queer and monstrous, I really enjoyed the historical fiction + creature revenge plot mix. Short and sweet, I thought the writing was engaging, the characters well-written, and the time period compelling. Exploring queer and trans identities in Appalachia post WWI, where religious bigotry, eugenics, and modernization clash was something I’ve not explored before. I enjoyed Mandelo’s other novella and was pleased to enjoy this one just as much, great stories with even better senses of place and atmosphere. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Pregnancy

hardbackhoarder's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• 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? No

4.0

The pacing was a bit off - there was a slow build up for the good first 3/4 of the book with a rush of events at the end that felt jumbled in execution.

Was not expecting furry/beastiality? smut which really isn't my thing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Dysphoria

Minor: Confinement and Panic attacks/disorders

ryanandrew23's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

amandalachelle's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement and Excrement

barometz's review

dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Cannibalism, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and War

Minor: Lesbophobia

corabookworm's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I honestly thought this book was 5-star worthy for the most part. The writing was fantastic, the historical elements interesting but not boring, the story fast paced, and the plot intriguing. The explicit sex scenes threw me off and, due to personal preference, lowered the rating of the book to 3 stars. But otherwise I really liked it! If you're looking for short, queer horror with elements of religion, romance, monsters, and history, this one's pretty damn good!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault

Sexual assault is referenced/implied multiple times but never shown on page. There are pretty explicit sex scenes, so if that kind of stuff makes you uncomfortable, skip these parts:

pg. 100/65% ish and pg. 132/86%

. There's also pretty gory stuff, which is worst at:

85%/pg. 130ish

fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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? No

4.0

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes, etc: Small Town, Place Personified, Religious Persecution, Revenge, Transgender MC, Transgender Love Interest

3rd Act Breakup?: No

The Praise: This book gave an interesting glimpse into the experience of a transgender man in the 1920s and paired that with eerie horror and sweet romance. It was well-written and I really loved the ending!

The Critique: I would’ve liked to know more about Spar Creek and its whole deal.

Final Thoughts: This wasn’t my typical kind of read but I really enjoyed it! Especially the ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Rape, Abortion, and Pregnancy