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finleyfrogreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gore, Homophobia, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Incest, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Suicide, Vomit, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racism, and Stalking
thesawyerbean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was absolutely repugnant to read, and frankly not enjoyable. The characters all sucked in their own ways, some more than others obviously - the discourse on HIV/AIDS was heinous and the grotesque descriptions of carrion and murder were horrifyingly indulgent. The love affair with abuse that all the characters (even the good ones) seemed to foster was gross as well.
I’m not naïve in expecting this book to be pleasant reading, but it could’ve been done in such a better way. This was just literal torture porn. In addition one of the fundamental plot points is just… unbelievable? Andrew somehow managing to basically die without actually dying, getting the better of actual medical professionals and then coming back to consciousness at the exact right time? Sure. Made the whole book even more ridiculous.
I wouldn’t recommend this even if it was good, but it wasn’t. So what’s the point?
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Classism, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Outing, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence
katrione's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Rape, Gore, Animal cruelty, Violence, Incest, Addiction, Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Torture, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Body horror, and Blood
summerstargrrrl's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Cannibalism, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Xenophobia, Addiction, Homophobia, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Racism, Excrement, and Blood
rosesofthespring's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Excrement, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, Terminal illness, Torture, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, and Incest
Explicit descriptions and discussion of HIV/AIDS in the 80s gay scene. Significant anti-Asian racism. Granted it all comes from characters who are meant to be despicable, but it is still constant.lovelylilelle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Excrement, Rape, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Blood, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Addiction, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
natreviews'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's told from four different perspectives. Three third-person, one first. Two murderers, one victim, and one the victims ex-lover. It was really interesting to read it this way. It was an interesting stylistic choice that actually ended up working. With also having the background set in 1990's New Orleans during the AIDs crisis, it's an interesting read just from a historical standpoint.
I will give you the warning that you will need to read the last 60-100 pages in one sitting. On the final day/night the book takes place, it really ramps up and is just better in one sitting.
I gave this book a 5/5 not only for the story (because even though it's extremally disturbing, it still is a good story), but for how it's written. It's a read that is worth it if you can handle it, but, like Tender is the Flesh, is a book that I don't think I will read again. Once was enough in my opinion.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, and Pedophilia
queserasara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Incest
anthuriumskies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
anxiousbookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Grief, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism