Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite

55 reviews

devin_raquel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.5

Sadly, I was disappointed with this book; the TikTok hype is just not worth it in my opinion. 
Yes, there was cannibalism. Yes, there was necrophiliac scenes. Yes, there was plenty of detailed gore. But I found the characters flat and the switching between POVs irrelevant. I think the story could’ve been told entirely from Andrew Comptons’ POV, and the readers would’ve gotten the same experience. 
As much as I love a dark and bloody story, this one just didn’t do it for me. The only saving grace was Brites’ exquisite imagery and descriptions; she made even the most horrible acts sound beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Racism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs

ponydanza's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Drug use, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Addiction, Rape, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Torture

yaoipanduh9264's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

This is definitely not for the faint of heart. Though it is grotesque and could give the most disturbed person nightmares; I rather enjoyed it. It’s eloquently written and and draws the reader in no matter the unsettling description. Brite does an excellent job of making each characters point of view their own characteristics and nuances. The fluidity of the characters makes the story come alive. I would definitely recommend only if you have a strong stomach and are able to handle content that goes beyond vile, repulsive, atrocious, and revolting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Mental illness, Gore, Drug use, Sexual content, Addiction, Body horror, Death, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Blood, Sexual violence, Rape, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Homophobia, and Alcohol

horatioed's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Police brutality

Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm

Minor: Pedophilia

rosesofthespring's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

shinsoukoku's review against another edition

dark

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

its as advertised and touted online—a gory disturbing horror novel. readers of this particular genre of horror probably won't go wrong with choosing this book. 

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. 

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Content Warnings

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 fetishization

queserasara's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

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 against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

gay cannibals? um 

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Content Warnings

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

orcamagicka's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Drug use, Gore, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Police brutality, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Minor: Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Xenophobia