Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Serious Weakness by Porpentine Charity Heartscape

2 reviews

k_aro's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.5

A deeply gripping book, from the first page I just wanted to blitz through it. Lots of descriptions that are at the same time erotic and nauseating, and one passage in specific that made me sick to imagine. The tension created when Insul first kidnaps Trianon is truly horrible. There's a lot of legitimately hilarious moments, both in everyday ways and in 'dark' ways.

I wasn't really sure if this would be the kind of book that I'd enjoy, and while I can't say that I necessarily ended up liking Oenone, Trianon, or Insul, I am kind of happy for how/where they ended up. I also appreciate the ever-shifting perspective, the third/second/first and the morse (?) code. Really inhabits Trianon's head.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Drug use, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Classism, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Torture

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Eating disorder and Incest

On the dysphoria, eating disorder, and incest CWs:

Trianon is not trans, but is kind of force-femmed and as a result is a little uncomfortable with being femmed.

Trianon isn't framed as having an eating disorder but by virtue of his kidnapping has his food restricted heavily, to the extent that his relationship to food is warped.

Trianon and Insul aren't related, but Insul mentions at least twice (in a romantic/sexual context) that Trianon is like a little brother to him.

tranzblood's review

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.25

A manchild obsessively goes out of his way to make someone Worse. Littered with extremely graphic and disturbing content. Actual trauma bonding. Made me sick to my stomach and I loved it for that. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Excrement, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Body shaming, Car accident, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Violence, Vomit, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis