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owlribbon's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Incest, Gore, Excrement, Dysphoria, Body horror, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Drug use, Child abuse, Vomit, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Transphobia, and Violence
discarded_dust_jacket's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Sexual content, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, Ableism, and Deadnaming
ellisdex'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Excrement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Gore, Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Body horror, Violence, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Classism
Moderate: Blood, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Genocide, Stalking, Torture, Suicide, Dysphoria, Antisemitism, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Infertility, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, and Grief
doubledagger'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
3.0
The very heavy Gross felt pretty numbing and flat by the end.
The occasional glimpses of the wider concept were excellent, but that taking a backseat to the relationship of the two leads made the ending feel incredibly abrupt.
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Transphobia, Body horror, and Abortion
Moderate: Eating disorder
brandongordon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The story revolves around Frankie, a survivor of a transphobic terrorist attack, and her enigmatic and submissive lover, Vanya, who harbors a peculiar fascination with parasites. As their relationship unfolds, so does the web of secrets and conspiracies that threaten to tear them apart. What starts as a seemingly unconventional love story evolves into a chilling exploration of how misunderstandings, shame, and trauma can infiltrate queer relationships, even within a niche fetish community.
Alison Rumfitt, known for her debut novel "Tell Me I’m Worthless," once again proves herself as a powerful voice in transgressive queer horror. While her previous work held a cracked mirror to the rise of fascism and transphobia, "Brainwyrms" takes a different approach. It's filled with wit, humor, and a dose of absurdity, as the antagonists in the story resemble cartoon villains. However, beneath the surface, the novel tackles serious issues with a ferocity that is impossible to ignore.
What sets "Brainwyrms" apart is its ability to provoke visceral reactions. While "Tell Me I’m Worthless" was genuinely terrifying, this book delves into the realms of disgust and discomfort, challenging readers to confront their own limits. Rumfitt's prose is frenetic, daring you to put the book down and walk away, but at the same time, it keeps you hooked.
In conclusion, "Brainwyrms" is a shocking, grotesque, and downright filthy journey into the depths of love, pain, and identity. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those willing to venture into the darker corners of literature, Alison Rumfitt's latest offering is a daring and thought-provoking read that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the final page.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for generously providing me with a digital ARC of "Brainwyrms" by Alison Rumfitt to read and review prior to the release date on 10/10/2023.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Child abuse
jackalopecore's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Transphobia, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Vomit, and Child abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Violence, and Hate crime
sleaterkenneth's review against another edition
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Excrement, Incest, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Vomit, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Torture, and Toxic relationship
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, Drug use, Self harm, Child abuse, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Excrement