Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt

74 reviews

zoeygrey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

Didn't hit quite as hard as Tell Me I'm Worthless, but still an exceptional body horror

The fox scene (iykyk) is genuinely one of the most disgusting things I've ever read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Body horror, Sexual violence, Self harm, Sexual content, and Rape

Moderate: Blood, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Bullying, Child abuse, Dysphoria, and Incest

bookwormdystopian2's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body horror, Transphobia, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

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

mmmsnacks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

2.0

You know I don’t think this one was for me 🪱

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Kidnapping, Drug use, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexism, Death, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Domestic abuse, Deadnaming, Body shaming, and Body horror

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Classism

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

my_a's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Sexual content, Infertility, Excrement, Pedophilia, Incest, Rape, and Pregnancy

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

carl_still_reading's review against another edition

challenging dark informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

I’m calling it now … 
🪱Brainwyrms🪱
is one of, if not my favourite book of the year 🏆 

Talking about this book is so difficult as it’s defiantly not for everyone. It’s gross, vile and at times pornographic. It’s vulgar and shocking and downright uncomfortable. It’s a genuine extreme horror that many people will not enjoy. 

However as I read the book, it turned out to be more than I thought. Yes it’s an extreme horror, but it also tackles heavy topics of transgender hate which is probably the most horrific part of the book. 

We follow Frankie, who has got her life back together after a transphobic woman bombed her workplace and her meeting with a mystery woman named Vanya. As the relationship develops we start to peel back the curtain to find out who Vanya really is. 

I’m honestly so blown away by this book. To me it’s a genre defying book that is part extreme horror, part political horror, part biography almost. Rumfitt discusses the very relevant topic of trans hate in Britain and how truly ugly and horrific it really is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Sexual content, Excrement, and Gore