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fuathling'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? Yes
2.75
If you're looking for something to cringe over, to grimace at while reading due to the sheer abundance of grotesque, stomach-churning filth mounted on the pages: it's a book worthy of conversation.
After reading this I found myself wishing I knew someone else who had just so that we could both stare at each other and collectively chant "what the fuck".
Alison seems to depict transphobia as a disease-- which isn't altogether a poor depiction; but fails to tie her story together in a way that really feels concrete.
I finished this story envisioning a loosely knotted ball of dripping gore with no real core plot tying it all together. It seems to unravel at the end in a sort of "yes, its just more gross stuff" way that doesn't feel at all satisfying and instead left me going "huh???"
I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't impressed, either.
The book is chalk full of fucked up scenes, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone triggered by transphobic, dysphoric, or sexual scenarios. There's a lot to be flagged about this book, but if you can handle it-- I suggest reading it with a friend: that way you at least have someone as equally confused as you are by the end of it all.
I get the overlying message, but I failed to find the real satisfaction of a book well written.
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
myqueerbookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
hydecircus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Animal death
ee_comins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Abandonment
trashgobby's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Incest, Infertility, Violence, Excrement, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
k2_hancock's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child death and Incest
readingwithsierra'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
sparklysputnik's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
All trigger warnings are under graphic because most are regular topics and even if they aren't, the author is detailed and doesn't hold back on any of it. Not something I would recommend to many, especially those who haven't tried any transgressive horror before. Start at the shallow end with something else, then see if this is for you.grimdark_dad's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic