Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Waif by Samantha Kolesnik

18 reviews

lus's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual content

Minor: Pedophilia and Death of parent

cm_evans's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

--Vague possible spoilers--

Went into this book without any knowledge of the plot, and the emotional whiplash of everything that happens in this book is intense, I don't know if knowing a bit about it beforehand would make a difference tbqh. The main character is not necessarily likeable or unlikeable, though she's written interestingly, she is a victim in a lot of circumstances, but she herself is problematic in how she views the world and people in it. There's a miserable marriage due to what I think is obvious compulsory heterosexuality, medical/body horror, queer themes and characters, very vague discussion of niche kink-based sex work, discussion of sexual assault, murder, and a somewhat ambiguous ending. Overall, a quick and interesting read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Medical trauma

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

another_dahlia's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Murder, Medical content, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Death, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Gore, Physical abuse, and Gun violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, Biphobia, Cancer, Blood, Homophobia, and Body shaming

atranscryptid's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Gore, Sexual assault, Medical content, Murder, and Misogyny

_fallinglight_'s review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer

mfrisk's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book seemed interesting when described and the concept seemed like it could be taken to some interesting depths. However I felt like this novella fell flat. The book tried to touch on concepts such as misogyny, beauty standards, putting relationships and people on a pedestal, and so much more but even in this short book some aspects got repetitive while others weren’t properly fleshed  out. Unfortunately didn’t enjoy this read and didn’t feel like it rose above shock value though it tried to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Dysphoria, Gore, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Misogyny

Moderate: Biphobia

sunnyp's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Minor: Death, Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual assault

assesgrass's review

2.25

the beginning was interesting and then after the surgery matt had, it got super dumb. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Grief, Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Body horror, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

montsebens's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Most monsters are just people the heroes abused.

I can’t decide if I’m traumatized, enthralled, or emotional. Waif is a rollercoaster that starts in the unknown and only moves through darkness. It’s a wave of pleasure that rises a heartbeat to then sink it in sorrow. 

My mistake was reading this at night. The descriptions are vivid and raw, it made me feel haunted in a way I’ve never experienced before. The realization that I identified with Angie sunk me right down with her — I felt like I was her. I held my breath the entire way through, and I’m going to keep my inhale in my lungs for a while after putting it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Gore, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Stalking, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Death, Gaslighting, and Drug use

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Classism, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia

childofmongreldogs's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

On a personal level, I dislike this. Just distaste for it, altogether.

I didn't enjoy the pacing or the prose. The former seemed to go from a complete standstill and then to break neck speeds. The prose seemed to border on the pretentious for me, a lot. The style choice for the main character's narration was inconsistent and, in my opinion, pretentious.

I think Kolesnik is definitely talented. There were certain themes that spoke to me, as a woman. As a person, even. But I'm not the kind of person that can wade through so much gore consistently. I felt buried in the depravity when the realizations of the character should have drawn me in more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Trafficking, Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Stalking, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content