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perfectcupoftea'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
4.5
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Blood, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Death, Ableism, Body horror, and Confinement
Minor: Child death, War, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Car accident
sauvageloup'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pros:
- they're definitely gripping, and the writing style is sparse but clear and evocative, with the descriptions being vivid.
- the stories felt self contained and satisfying overall, even as many ended in tragedy.
- the last book of short stories I read, i struggled to jump from one story to another, maybe because they were so different and by different people. this one wasnt like that at all, and i had no problem reading straight through, pretty much.
- i liked the variety in length and themes of the stories, from birth horror, to supernatural, to fantasy fairy tale and modern criticisms on feminism and capitalism. i think i mainly read very on the surface and didnt look hard at metaphors and such, a reread might help me see this more.
- I liked the sheer imagination though and how Chung makes you care for characters who often arent even given a name.
cons:
- the first two stories especially, but a lot of them overall, were pretty horrible and graphic. they did their job in making you feel things! but it reminded me too much of just horrible nightmares and intrusive thoughts and I wouldnt read those two again.
- I also felt there was generally a lack of hope in the stories, but that's personal taste I guess.
overall, well written and gripping but too horror for me and dont think I'll seek out more of her work, but I might reread this in time.
Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Car accident, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Child death, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Bullying, Medical trauma, Sexism, Violence, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Torture, Pregnancy, Body horror, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
mondovertigo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Excrement, and Animal death
Moderate: Child death and Death
cs172'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Child death, Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Animal death
rlhreads's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abandonment, Mental illness, Death, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Rape, Slavery, Cannibalism, Child death, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Animal death, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Body horror, and Vomit
virginplatonic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Pregnancy, Gore, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, and Grief
Minor: Excrement, Suicide, Eating disorder, Vomit, Cursing, and War
scifi_rat's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Death and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Medical content, Excrement, Slavery, Body horror, Grief, Violence, War, Abandonment, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Torture, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Sexism, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Animal death, Alcohol, Abortion, Infertility, Animal cruelty, and Infidelity
cakehatwombat's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Incest, and Animal death
Minor: Suicide
I did not personally read the first two stories, as my friend who read it before me said that they both had to do with pregnancy and/or childbirth, which are two very hard nos for me. The third story also involves pregnancy and childbirth, but in not nearly as much detail and personally I was fine reading it. Other than that, I guess the constant in all of the stories is death? So if you aren't in the mood to read about people dying, maybe sit this one out.dandelionsanddragons'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
5.0
the head: 5/5 haunting. amazing.
the embodiment: 5/5 body horror, so creepy
cursed bunny: 4.5/5 great story about capitalism
the frozen finger: 3/5 harder to understand but atmosphere is great
snare: 4.5/5 like a fairytale
goodbye, my love: 4/5 most realistic one
scars: 2.5/5 dragged out too much
home sweet home: 4/5 quite realistic and eerie
ruler of the winds and sands: 3.5/5 felt like something was missing, but read like a fairytale
reunion: 4.5/5 heartbreaking
“no one asked us, when we were still nameless
whether we wanted to live or not
now i wander the big city alone
looking in doors and windows
waiting and waiting for something…”
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Grief, Incest, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Suicide, Vomit, Car accident, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Self harm, Trafficking, and Murder
metanav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Murder, and Incest