Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt

65 reviews

saturn_rage's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Fucking hell this stressed me out. I originally started it months ago, read about the first third, and took a prolonged indefinite break due to the anxiety it brewed in me. Anyhow, on returning I finished it in two days, so take that for what you will. 

The stream-of-consciousness that is much of this book works well for the characters and the subject matter, and also gives you a sense of the existential anxiety lacing the entire narrative, something that seeps into you the reader as well (at least for me). Anyhow, I did like this, though it comes with a whole load of content warnings and my stomach is pretty strong. It taps into some parts of me that I should explore more, and is very topical given the current climate I am struggling to exist in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Drug abuse, Excrement, Blood, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Transphobia, Vomit, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Child abuse

arlenren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

Visceral, provocative, revolting. Don't make the mistake I did and start reading this on the train; you do NOT want anyone looking over your shoulder. Once I'd found a more suitable place to read it, I couldn't put it down. This book pulls no punches as it lays out the threat that trans people face in the UK today, unflinching in a portrayal that remains truthful even through a lens of conspiratorial fantasy. Like all the best horror novels, it has moments of comedy that provide respite from the crushing tension. I went into this book thinking it was going to make me feel sick yet surprisingly it didn't, in spite of how personal some of its triggers are for me. I guess there's something wrong with me?? Luckily, there's nothing wrong with this book. If you have a strong stomach and an open mind, this is a faultless read. Easiest five stars I've given in a long time. (Please do check the trigger warnings though).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Body shaming, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, and Drug use

django018's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense

4.5

Rumfitt’s incandescent intensity scorches the reader through to the bone once again. This one’s gonna be on brain… (haha) rotation for a while. 
It was immensely upsetting, and terrifying. Clear themes as usual from the author, which I appreciate. More subtly done than the last novel, as is explored in introduction. 
Much to think about, can’t wait to discuss. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Rape, Transphobia, Violence, and Sexual content

iceperg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Bullying, Body shaming, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Deadnaming, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Rape, Gore, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Infertility, Excrement, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Mental illness, Hate crime, Fatphobia, Dysphoria, and Drug use

apollos_books's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• 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

3.5

ive seen & read a lotttt of nasty stuff in horror, but this is literally the grossest book ive ever read period. it literally made me physically ill. and i dont think it was worth going through all that…for starters, i was not a fan of the main protagnoist, Frankie - i feel like ive “met” this exact character in several other trans novels. Vanya was the more interesting of the pair but their arc went literally nowhere. the “message/themes” revolve primarily around rage baity internet discourse which im beyond over personally. the jk rowling parody bits were funny though.

on the plus side, at least it was short and fairly fast-paced. it was also written well enough to keep me going til the end obvs. and im also just generally always going to have a bias for trans horror so

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Excrement, Death, Vomit, Self harm, Deadnaming, Blood, Rape, Incest, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Gore, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

vincentvanhough's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

loved the book until the last chapter

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Incest, Rape, Dysphoria, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Blood, Suicide, and Vomit

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Self harm

ddryden825's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Hate crime, Child death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Gore, Blood, Drug use, Excrement, Addiction, Body shaming, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Body horror

skogsheks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Body shaming, Homophobia, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Murder, Transphobia, Vomit, Dysphoria, Excrement, Incest, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Gore, Hate crime, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

rivergardner's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Transphobia, Eating disorder, Incest, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Homophobia, Hate crime, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Vomit

Moderate: Mental illness, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Death, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Blood, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Deadnaming, Animal death, and Drug use

calcified_boner's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Deliciously gross, practically parasitic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Incest, Violence, Torture, Hate crime, and Transphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Child death, Fatphobia, Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Classism, and Abandonment