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loki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
However, at times it felt like it was being deliberately provocative, rather than provocative in the service of the overall artistry of the book. Not that I fault the author for that - I think every queer creator should create art as disgusting as they want it to be - but it did affect my enjoyment of the book personally. There were also some elements of the discourse around race and homophobia that felt a little off colour, but in all honesty I would need to do more research to comment on that intelligently.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Classism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Cursing, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Racism
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- 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
moranguinhos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
Minor: Vomit and Police brutality
cristinarivas88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Body horror, Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
bahyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Self harm, Racism, Police brutality, Outing, Murder, Homophobia, Gun violence, Gore, Drug abuse, Cursing, Vomit, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide, Sexual violence, Body horror, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use
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 against another edition
- 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
shinsoukoku's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
but ill admit i, personally, wanted it to be more than what it was and expand on more on the social commentary because it's the moments where the characters are simply existing in a society that doesn't want them to that really unsettled me. it would've helped understanding the fetishistic descriptions of tran (which i think is probably on purpose) in the eyes of white men as something that actually serves a purpose. but it falls flat and it's interactions with it's setting and the intersecting identities within them is shallow.
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Rape, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Trafficking
Moderate: Racism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Vomit
Minor: Slavery, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child death, Incest, and Infidelity
asian fetishizationanthuriumskies'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
3.25
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