Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt

44 reviews

saturn_rage's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

4.0

Fucking hell this stressed me out. I originally started it months ago, read about the first third, and took a prolonged indefinite break due to the anxiety it brewed in me. Anyhow, on returning I finished it in two days, so take that for what you will. 

The stream-of-consciousness that is much of this book works well for the characters and the subject matter, and also gives you a sense of the existential anxiety lacing the entire narrative, something that seeps into you the reader as well (at least for me). Anyhow, I did like this, though it comes with a whole load of content warnings and my stomach is pretty strong. It taps into some parts of me that I should explore more, and is very topical given the current climate I am struggling to exist in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Drug abuse, Excrement, Blood, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Transphobia, Vomit, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Kidnapping, Body shaming, and Child abuse

arlenren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicide, Addiction, Incest, Infertility, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Death, Pedophilia, Animal death, Dysphoria, Medical content, Alcohol, Child abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gore, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Domestic abuse

skogsheks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Body shaming, Homophobia, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Murder, Transphobia, Vomit, Dysphoria, Excrement, Incest, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Gore, Hate crime, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

calcified_boner's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Deliciously gross, practically parasitic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Incest, Violence, Torture, Hate crime, and Transphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Child death, Fatphobia, Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Classism, and Abandonment

gaeliloveweiss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical content, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Grief, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Incest, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Body horror, Dysphoria, Infertility, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit

fluoresensitive's review against another edition

I was gonna try to finish this but then I realized omg, I don't have to because Because understanding and accepting that I'm not the target audience for white queer gross-out kink horror is a sign of maturity, like why complain about the way white people in particular fetishize violence when I can just not read it, omg!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Rape

shawcrit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Excrement, Gore, Body horror, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Dysphoria

Minor: Murder, Rape, Incest, and Suicide

devsreadsnrambles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.75

Fair warning to all who read this book - It is gross and terrifying and uncomfortable but man oh man is it good. I borrowed a copy from my library and I ate this up in 24 hours. I could not put it down. Kind of like watching a car wreck, its terrifying and uncomfy but we can't look away. 

I am an avid horror fan. This book made me squeamish and want to clean my brain. I loved the not so subtle topic of trans-gender folx experiences in the UK and the cost of the lack of empathy and humanity they are treated with. This story is not for the feint of heart. But I believe it is so damn important to read. If you think you're uncomfortable reading this? Imagine how a trans person feels just living their life. 

I would 100% read again. I have read Alison's previous book Tell Me I'm Worthless and while I didn't enjoy it AS much, I think Alison is an incredible writer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit, Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Body shaming

sthesp_2024's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It’s an experience I highly recommend you be emotionally prepared for before reading. It will make you feel things so strongly you will almost feel like your were personally hurt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Gore, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

hamletslover's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Dysphoria, Drug abuse, Drug use, Deadnaming, Alcohol, Violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Body horror, Blood, Abandonment, Vomit, Torture, Suicide, Physical abuse, Grief, Excrement, Child abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Outing, Infertility, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Classism, and Child death