Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

7 reviews

_oo_'s review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Misogyny, Alcohol, War, Death of parent, Blood, Homophobia, Vomit, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence

vagaybond's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

giggling blushing twirling my hair kicking my feet copypasta

I mean to be clear some bad stuff happens but mostly I feel love for my gays

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Gore, War, Medical content, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Sexism

On page murder of the father of two main characters in a battle scene near the end.

There's some internalized homophobia in Gabe that he sort of extends to his sister, but it's acknowledged as projection and is something he works through.

dinosaurari's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, War, Hate crime, Homophobia, Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism and Emotional abuse

Minor: Body horror and Child abuse

axel_p's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

Why was this so fucking good

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Content Warnings

Minor: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Vomit, War, Ableism, Body horror, Grief, Blood, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

gidgetdraws's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

3.0

I wanted to like this book more, I mean, fruity A Knights Tale? What wouldn’t be to love? But I’m realizing Lex Croucher might not be for me as an author. 

This is my second Lex Croucher book (the first being Infamous) and in both works I was disappointed by the lack of trigger warnings for more upsetting content that was in no way hinted at in the marketing of either book. I also liked the side characters way more than the main characters. I will say I liked this book more than Infamous, but I struggled to stay motivated to finish the book in a timely manner.

That being said, I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from reading this book as there were very cute moments and entertaining banter/shenanigans, however bare in mind the following trigger warnings: parental verbal/physical abuse, graphic depictions of violence/gore/war of a medieval type setting, blood,  and homophobia. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, Gore, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Blood, Homophobia, Body horror, Physical abuse, and War

vaguely_pink's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

4.0

**Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review eARC**

This was real cute. I'm not the biggest historical fiction reader, but this queer Arthurian reimagining with just the most delightful cast of characters had just enough magic and fantasy vibes to keep me hooked start to finish. The whole ensemble cast is wonderfully written. The banter? Amazing. I loved them all from the jump. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a masterclass in how to write all the kinds of representation. (The scene where

Gwen sticks up for Bridget when her pelvic pain is dismissed by the royal physician

??? My heart is healed even if my uterus isn't.) While I agree with many of the reviews that the latter 30ish% is a major tone shift and a bit jarring, it didn't impact my enjoyment of this book, especially since I'm much more of a fantasy reader than a romcom reader. Highly recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Medical content, and Mental illness

Minor: Bullying, Gore, Chronic illness, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Body horror, Cursing, Grief, and Violence

literaryinluv's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

Such a delight to read! This book made me laugh with its witty banter (mostly from Arthur) and its sweet relationships. Gwen and Arthur are a classic enemies-to-friends dynamic, with their hatred for each other stemming from their childhood. Of course, the two are betrothed (Kind of like The Swan Princess movie!). But I loved the queer angle it took in this relationship with both being interested in people who are decidedly not each other. They truly went from breaking wrists to WLW/MLM solidarity. In fact, that's how I would really describe the relationship between our two main characters: WLW/MLM solidarity.

Outside of the relationships our two characters held, there were some wonderful friendships. Sidney and Arthur are brothers in all but blood and would stick together through thick and thin. Gwen and Agnes shifted from a boss-worker dynamic to friends. And the close relationship our siblings, Gwen and Gabriel, had was adorable.

My only gripe with the book was that the romances from both our couples sometimes felt a bit lackluster. Arthur and Gabriel were cute at times and they had some nice bonding moments. But Bridget and Gwen let me down! As a sapphic female myself, I was looking forward to the sapphic relationship in this setting and was especially interested in the fact that one of those involved was a femme princess and a female knight (Oh side note, Bridget is Thai!). I wanted more bonding and moments from them, & there were some but not enough. This may be my only issue with the book, but since it's largely about romance, I felt like a star should be knocked off for that. Please remember that this is my opinion!

The book was overall super fun. The friendships were great & I really felt for these characters and their problems. I loved the setting & the Arthurian aspect and how it came to play throughout the story. It was very clever, & there were moments where I was on the edge of my seat & laughing at Arthur.

TDLR; I really need to read more historical queer novels!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, War, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Murder, Body horror, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Child abuse, Gore, Vomit, Incest, and Emotional abuse