Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Simplified summary:
This is no normal pandemic.
Opening lines:
It was only Tuesday evening, and I was already bone-tired. Wrung out.
Revies:
Weirdest bait and switch experience I've had where I loved both the bait and the switch. I didn't read the synopsis going in so I had no idea or expectations of this story. It started off as a grounded horror in the midst of a pandemic getting serious, and then half way through PSYCH. This is actually a brutal, gory, sex-filled cosmic body horror. This book made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin and weirdly aroused and then horrified at myself for feeling that way. I love this book. It isn't without its problem, but the good is so good that the bad barely mattered to me.
This is no normal pandemic.
Opening lines:
It was only Tuesday evening, and I was already bone-tired. Wrung out.
Revies:
Weirdest bait and switch experience I've had where I loved both the bait and the switch. I didn't read the synopsis going in so I had no idea or expectations of this story. It started off as a grounded horror in the midst of a pandemic getting serious, and then half way through PSYCH. This is actually a brutal, gory, sex-filled cosmic body horror. This book made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin and weirdly aroused and then horrified at myself for feeling that way. I love this book. It isn't without its problem, but the good is so good that the bad barely mattered to me.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve sat on this for a couple of days and have concluded that, even though the writing can be very clunky and it becomes obvious by the third part that this was three original short stories merged into one, this is a ver good book.
The first chapter is horribly clunky; filled with dated contemporary references that don’t read well, and was so obviously added to give backstory to the second chapter.
The second chapter is where the real meat is - the best part of the whole book. This is clearly the original story and it shows. It’s disgustingly good and I could make an argument for it being the best part of the whole novel.
The rest of the book is an incredibly interesting and thought provoking set of events about autonomy, society’s treatment of the sick and disabled, and a fresh take on body horror, women in horror, and people with uterus’s roles in the body horror genre.
The first chapter is horribly clunky; filled with dated contemporary references that don’t read well, and was so obviously added to give backstory to the second chapter.
The second chapter is where the real meat is - the best part of the whole book. This is clearly the original story and it shows. It’s disgustingly good and I could make an argument for it being the best part of the whole novel.
The rest of the book is an incredibly interesting and thought provoking set of events about autonomy, society’s treatment of the sick and disabled, and a fresh take on body horror, women in horror, and people with uterus’s roles in the body horror genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent, Dysphoria
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well that was a truly odd reading experience.
I’m not entirely sure how to describe this one. It starts out as a pretty solid dystopian horror novel. An illness similar to the one that we lived through just a few years ago has taken over the world, and people are dying or living with the consequences of survival left right and centre. Thing is it does take quite a sharp left turn around the mid point and then it just gets more confusing after that. I’m not entirely sure how to describe it. I would say that it is broken up into three parts. The first part is really solid. The second part is pretty good if a bit disturbing the third part just left me scratching my head and questioning quite a lot of … stuff.
Overall, pretty good horror novel I think if you’re into the genre, you might like it. I would not say that this is something for a beginner in the genre. It is quite a lot and throws more than a few weird curveballs
I’m not entirely sure how to describe this one. It starts out as a pretty solid dystopian horror novel. An illness similar to the one that we lived through just a few years ago has taken over the world, and people are dying or living with the consequences of survival left right and centre. Thing is it does take quite a sharp left turn around the mid point and then it just gets more confusing after that. I’m not entirely sure how to describe it. I would say that it is broken up into three parts. The first part is really solid. The second part is pretty good if a bit disturbing the third part just left me scratching my head and questioning quite a lot of … stuff.
Overall, pretty good horror novel I think if you’re into the genre, you might like it. I would not say that this is something for a beginner in the genre. It is quite a lot and throws more than a few weird curveballs
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found the first section of this book really intriguing, but as it went on I lost interest a little. I got really invested in the story of the first character introduced, so when this cut off abruptly and we switched to someone else, it was a bit jarring.
I did really enjoy how the situation and the body horror escalated throughout the book; it was definitely creative and well-written. However I feel like maybe the author tried to cram so much stuff in that it lost focus a little towards the end. I was actually quite surprised when the story ended, as it didn't feel like any of the characters had very satisfying conclusions, but the journey to get there was definitely an interesting ride!
I did really enjoy how the situation and the body horror escalated throughout the book; it was definitely creative and well-written. However I feel like maybe the author tried to cram so much stuff in that it lost focus a little towards the end. I was actually quite surprised when the story ended, as it didn't feel like any of the characters had very satisfying conclusions, but the journey to get there was definitely an interesting ride!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content
Disturbing book so I'd recommend it for 18+
It was a struggle to make it through this book. I suspect that this was written for a younger audience because of the dialogue and pacing.