Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin

217 reviews

moxiemin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

If you want a stomach turning book.... this is the one... there are times i had to put it down and step away from the book bc I literally had visceral reactions.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Dysphoria

madzsmiled's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

4.75

Manhunt was an incredibly powerful take on the zombie apolocalypse, centering hormones and gender identity. It was one of the scariest and goriest apolocalypse stories I've read in a long time, and one of the first I've read that features Trans characters. Beth and Fran's struggled not only to survive the zombified men and the TERFS, but also to find community and love. It was a fantastic read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

crimsonreadlips's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

mmartinko11's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, Outing, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

katipheria's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

2.25

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. The general premise of the world-building is fantastic and unique, and as much as I hate to say it, were it to become our own reality I'm sure that the world would ultimately align itself in a similar fashion

in that cis women would be more likely to fall into a TERF or at least TERF-adjacent stance, if only due to the uncertainty and fear. Even those who consider themselves to be the best possible ally are still at risk simply due to the drive for self-preservation.

It's a terrifying situation and highlights a lot of ugly truths in reality.

However, the actual story within this world just doesn't do it for me. There's a lot of unnecessary sex scenes and as someone who prefers to avoid an excess amount of that (regardless of sex/gender of participants), I found myself skimming a lot to get back to the actual plot and feeling disappointed. While I understand that an apocalyptic setting inspires depravity and these moments highlight an innate desire for comfort and companionship,

the MC Fran's general poor treatment and better-than-you attitude towards her supposed friends makes things even more unappealing.

While it's not necessarily a horrible book, it is most definitely designed to be an uncomfortable read centered around characters who don't have many redeeming qualities.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

radtj's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Fuck terfs kill monsters

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Outing, Dysphoria, and War

norspider's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It's not hyperbole anymore; it is all men.

The birth of a virus that targets anyone with high enough testosterone levels, turning them into mindless, ferocious beasts. Things that hunt in packs to eat (and do worse) to any prey. 

The characters we follow most are Beth and Fran, 2 trans girls surviving by any means necessary in the wilderness. A chance encounter puts them in the crosshairs of a merciless army of TERFs. Beth, Fran, and most other characters we're introduced to get a fulfilling amount of depth and development. 

This book is GRAPHIC with its violence and sex. Be aware of that going in, and then expect more. 

There are pop-culture references that may alienate some potential readers but I hope I'm wrong about that. More people should read this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent

Minor: Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Excrement

sxndaze's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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? No

3.5

Incredible premise, but it can be hard to digest (ha!)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

bleidddrwg's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

TWs:
Graphic: Extreme transphobia, murder, violence, hate crimes, body horror, gore, injury/injury detail, pandemic, medical content
Moderate: Dysphoria, rape, grief
Brief: Pregnancy

It's a horrifying look into what the world would become, and feels like it's on the way to actually becoming - yet also littered with trans triumph and joy throughout, showing we're still here and always will be, no matter how much the world hates us and turns against us.

The characters are all incredible, even the TERFs (in that this highlights just how terrible, vile, and conniving they are, even nowadays). The trans unity is awe-inspiring, and I'm utterly in love with it.

It's such a genuine look into the lives of trans people and that we're not all sweet and innocent, and how we may navigate a hormone-based apocalypse. Gut punching, bittersweet ending, but it was also really beautiful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Hate crime, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Rape, Grief, and Dysphoria

Minor: Pregnancy

At the beginning of each chapter/part there's often transphobic statements (one is suicide-baiting, the others are from the TERF organisation(s))

audaudaud's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, and Transphobia

Moderate: Dysphoria