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oozyschmoozy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, Excrement, and Dysphoria
miniatureghosts'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
2.0
The stories themselves were well-written and definitely achieved their goal of being disgusting. They also linked together tonally and in terms of theme (queer gender identity, sexuality that deviates from social norms, strained interpersonal relationships etc.). It’s a coherent and cohesive collection.
Overall, I hated this but also think it’s a well-done short story collection. There’s definitely a niche audience that would love this.
Extra content warning: graphic bestiality
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Incest, and Excrement
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
cpaeper's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, and Sexual content
cran's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"The Strands" was especially affecting for me, hitting home in a way I didn't expect with the way it portrays the anxiety of transitioning as a lesbian, and I love the experimental storytelling styles in "Twins" and "Kill Marguerite". I really didn't expect to find a writer with whom my love of messy lesbian sexuality and twins/duality as a horror theme would overlap so completely.
The only thing keeping me from ranking it 5 stars is, as expected with anthologies, not every story was a winner for me (though I'm sure they will be for someone). That and the fact that I'm sure I could never read all the way through more than once. Maybe once I get my anxiety medicated.
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Violence
Minor: Incest, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, and Emotional abuse
reading_rainbow_with_chris'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Body horror, and Infidelity
suzyreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
(thanks to feminist press for the ARC)
showing the expansiveness of queer and trans stories in so many weird and interesting and upsetting ways. including through lots of VERY disturbing sex lol
particularly enjoyed the longer stories, and the ones that leaned into nostalgia and played w form using 90s cultural staples like BSC, Choose Your Own Adventure, and Seventeen’s Trauma-Rama column. there are also some stories in here that i uhhh truly hope to never think about again
favorites: The Strands, Kill Marguerite, Pleasantvale Twins #119: Abducted!, Germ Camp, Trauma-Rama: A Collaboration, Take Us to Your LDR, Patrick Gets Inspired
would recommend if you liked Sarahland or Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, Medical content, Transphobia, and Vomit