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cjfreddy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
9brightshiners's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Confinement, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Deportation
There are frequent, very graphic descriptions of abusing, torturing, and murdering children throughout the book. There is violence, gore, and blood as well as graphic injuries both accidental and on purpose that are caused by supernatural entities and humans. State violence, kidnappings, and deportations are mentioned throughout the book. In one instance a mass grave is exhumed and studied by forensic archaeologists. There is prejudice, mistreatment, and violence against women, Africans, indigenous South Americans, and frequent use of the f-slur related to homosexuality as well as ableism and one use of the related r-slur. This book deals with period realistic violence but there is also a great deal of abuse, violence, torture, and gore associated with occult rituals specific to the fictional secret society. Also of note: the AIDS epidemic is depicted in this novel.jhbandcats's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I haven’t read a book in ages - even fabulous books - where I lose track of time, but I was completely absorbed in the story. The characters are compelling, especially Juan - he seems sympathetic in the section told from his perspective but he’s a monstrous father to Gaspar. The vile grandmother and her sister are the most frightening of all.
The author conjures a world where magic and the horrors of Argentina’s dirty war are intertwined. By using the supernatural, she’s able to describe the terror of that period so it’s easy to imagine how awful it was for those targeted by the military junta.
This book is definitely not for everyone. It’s violent and vivid and visceral. It’s extraordinary.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
taniguchi_c'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
school_for_scandal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
csofi_najarro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
chiawo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder
lilly_dav_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I took away a star because I was a little disappointed with the ending. I would have liked to have seen Gaspar be able to heal from his pain and trauma. Will there be a second??
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
dbrivera55'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
oroseo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
and there are such beautiful quotes. when you finally get to the part where a character says the title. when you reckon with how horribly disposable every body is. the ways that love is twisted and deployed, the ways love is manipulated and disparaged.
there is a slower section in this novel, one that feels odd but reveals itself as necessary later in the novel. it took me a while to get through that section, but i would recommend actively trying to connect some of the more mysterious things happening to what you've already learned.
also. AIDS? the horror of aids!!! didn't even expect that. do we call this genre historical horror?
I think one thing i wish i understood more, one thing that maybe a lot of non-Argentine readers of the book might need, is a tad more context on the colonial/racial history of Argentina. anti-indigeneity comes across very clear, and not unexpected, but i guess i just need to read more about who colonized and when. shockingly, lack of Argentine political knowledge does not hold one back, despite the time of the book.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Violence, Vomit, and Police brutality
It is a dark book about a physically ill man being used by a cult, who abused many, many others. Would not recommend reading if you cannot handle graphic descriptions.