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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
wasn’t a fan initially, but holy shit was the latter 3/4 my cup of tea. deliciously gory, visceral, and horny. the narration style was a bit difficult to get into but works well for (again) the latter part of the story
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everyone in this book is that gif of Bill Hader saying to mark him down as scared and horny.
Mark everyone in this universe down as scared AND horny. Eldritch horror, pandemic horror, body horror... take your pick! This book is that three-sectioned canister of flavored popcorn your aunt sends each Christmas - except the popcorn is actually brains - that you feel compelled to reach in and grab a handful or two of each time you pass by it on the kitchen counter even though you're like "do i really actually like this? is this even good for humans to consume?" but your brain says oooohhh, carbs and sodium. we NEED these. thanks, babe.
It was absolutely bizarre in a surprisingly comforting way, and comes recommended for fans of meaningful gore and splatter, existential (but not necessarily physical) suffering (for all of the violence and bodily destruction in this book, there is very little intentional physical suffering, and that feels like an important thing to mention if you have a strong stomach but a sensitive heart), the yearning cosmic horrors that may lurk behind yet-undiscovered stars, strong women in ethically dubious positions of power and authority, 2020s Panini Era but Make It WORSE, bloody commentary on AFAB reproductive health and rights (but make it fun and whimsical, y'know?), works keeping spec-fic pace with continually emerging and admittedly kind of worrying findings about the gut-brain relationship and the terrifying implications of a widespread gastroencephalitic disease, perhaps Catriona Ward's Sundial and most certainly Andrew Joseph White's Hell Followed With Us, and the intersection of faith and religion with gender identity (if you squint, and if you're willing to scavenge for crumbs). Pour one out for our octopus brethren.
That said, there are still a few things that made me pause, and yeah, the one named-as-such gender-diverse character's fate is one of them. I've already returned my borrowed copy and can't remember whether or not the character's identity is explicitly stated or sort of just implied/could go in a few different directions, so I'm not assigning a discrete label, but it does kind of sting when the one character explicitly stated to Not Be Cis. I actually really loved everything about that character's story/thought process leading up to that moment and found it quite twisty-clever, but overall I just did not vibe with those vibes. I also wasn't wild about some of the pacing or the way things end; there is SO much build-up in the first third of the book and then by the end we are whizzing past things I would've really liked a chance to stop and see more of before continuing.
I still devoured it, though, and damn was it tasty.
It was absolutely bizarre in a surprisingly comforting way, and comes recommended for fans of meaningful gore and splatter, existential (but not necessarily physical) suffering (for all of the violence and bodily destruction in this book, there is very little intentional physical suffering, and that feels like an important thing to mention if you have a strong stomach but a sensitive heart), the yearning cosmic horrors that may lurk behind yet-undiscovered stars, strong women in ethically dubious positions of power and authority, 2020s Panini Era but Make It WORSE, bloody commentary on AFAB reproductive health and rights (but make it fun and whimsical, y'know?), works keeping spec-fic pace with continually emerging and admittedly kind of worrying findings about the gut-brain relationship and the terrifying implications of a widespread gastroencephalitic disease, perhaps Catriona Ward's Sundial and most certainly Andrew Joseph White's Hell Followed With Us, and the intersection of faith and religion with gender identity (if you squint, and if you're willing to scavenge for crumbs). Pour one out for our octopus brethren.
That said, there are still a few things that made me pause, and yeah, the one named-as-such gender-diverse character's fate is one of them. I've already returned my borrowed copy and can't remember whether or not the character's identity is explicitly stated or sort of just implied/could go in a few different directions, so I'm not assigning a discrete label, but it does kind of sting when the one character explicitly stated to Not Be Cis
Spoiler
dies, like... almost immediately after that fact is statedI still devoured it, though, and damn was it tasty.
This was one of the most fucked up, disgusting, mind boggling, weirdest books I’ve ever read… and I loved every second of it. Lovecraftian creatures, body horror, murder, canibalism, aliens, demons, biblical references, and a blood-soaked rainbow of LGBTQIA+ representation. You can’t beat it
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
I’ve never read anything like this book, and I doubt I will again! Completely unhinged in the second half. Gory, gross, and also glorious?!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes