Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

75 reviews

rhi_'s review

challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Deadnaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

cowbrotherx's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

i wish it had been longer! i wish we got more of a development of

leslie and stevie's relationship

i think there was room to build up more tension between characters.
also, fully did not anticipate

monsterfucking

, but enjoyed the book none the less

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

vii's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

I was recommended this book by my friend who thought it was quite interesting because the MC is solidly secure in his identity as a trans man while the rest of the people in the setting/town just see him as a strange and improper woman. Well, that just sounds like Being Closeted While Trans (the horror!), but I finally read it.

I quite liked the evocative prose and all the historical details, but the plot was a bit slow to unfold (unless you count the inherent horror of dealing with the townsfolk...). I also wasn't expecting it to turn into a rather explicit romance (?) by the end.

Speaking of which, I wasn't really convinced of Leslie and Stephan's relationship considering the age gap and their chemistry... it felt a bit forced.

In any case, I am a fan of indulgent stories where

the monster/monstrous gets revenge on humans doing horrible things, but I kind of wish there was more going on before the ending; Leslie was mostly getting stonewalled by literally everyone in the town for a significant chunk of the book. I bounced off of the beginning a few times and only finished because I was surprised to see this was actually a novella, it felt that long.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexual assault, Abortion, and Pregnancy

caseyreadslol's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.25

it's been over a month and I still cant stop thinking about how much I hated this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual assault

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

His first baptism was a violation, but the second was a renewal.

There is so much to love about this story, and it is amazing that it accomplishes all that it does in less than 150 pages. Mandelo presents us with a familiar enough scene: city nurse and former vet Leslie gets assigned to the small, rural, religious community of Spar Creek. Nearly all the townsfolk regard him with an icy demeanor, which only grows frostier when he takes notice of the “troublesome” youth, Stevie. Despite growing threats from the community, lead by the overzealous Pastor Holladay, Leslie knows that he and Stevie share a commonality in their gender — one that’s only further put a target on their backs. But, maybe, you call someone a monster enough times, they’ll show you their claws and you’ll live just long enough to find out how monsters fight back.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Abortion, and War

nerdysread's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

Wow monster fuckers this is for you. Also reading this book during night time: great idea

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War

vampandcoffee's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Setting and plot were super cool and the reason why I purchased this book in the first place.
BUT: there are no goddamn trigger warnings anywhere, at least not in my copy. And they are desperately needed! 

Also, tell me why the 30yo protagonist started a sexual (on page!) relationship with a freshly 18yo? WHY? What was the reason to not age up the love interest? (Can‘t be for shock effect cause the relationship is never questioned at all!!!) OH, and also: why did they then proceed to monsterfuck for a second time? For the love of God, add trigger warnings for that next time…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

Minor: Abortion

paige_hollingsworth99's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Fantastic. Delightful. Not as scary as expect but! We love queer revenge. This was very heavy for me, but I thought the ending delivered.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury

thehal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Blood, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Death and Sexual assault

charlesbiglythethird's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexual violence and War