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tyghe_bright's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
3.0
The on-the-nose, heavily explained style of the first two stories isn't what I like. However, I did enjoy the ideas.
I almost DNFed at that point, but am so glad I didn't. The third story, and then the afterward-into-the-final story? Loved them. And feel the relevance deeply as we head into a Pride month where the people who want us gone are more vocal than ever.
I almost DNFed at that point, but am so glad I didn't. The third story, and then the afterward-into-the-final story? Loved them. And feel the relevance deeply as we head into a Pride month where the people who want us gone are more vocal than ever.
trashgobby's review
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
lexaprose_'s review
5.0
My first foray into extreme horror. If you're going to read extreme horror, might as well start with the best of the best aka Judith Sonnet.
This book managed to make me squirm and want more.
The message behind the collection is important and is presented in a way that really opens your eyes and mind to the reality of life for many trans people.
They may want you gone, but I need Judith to stay and keep using her powerful prose to inspire us to do more, go farther, and fight!
This book managed to make me squirm and want more.
The message behind the collection is important and is presented in a way that really opens your eyes and mind to the reality of life for many trans people.
They may want you gone, but I need Judith to stay and keep using her powerful prose to inspire us to do more, go farther, and fight!
spooksie's review
dark
fast-paced
3.5
This was a nice and quick read. Also the first horror short story collection I've ever read. "They want us gone" was my favorite, although "A pale angel with bright red eyes" and "Little Gods" were also really cool.
Not a masterpiece or anything, but fun nonetheless
Not a masterpiece or anything, but fun nonetheless
eddiehits's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
At first, I didn’t like it. The stories felt fast and pointless. There are grammatical errors throughout. But since it is a short book I decided to keep reading, and I’m glad I did. It ended up being a raw and brilliant representation of trans rage. I think it’s worth the read, especially considering how short it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Homophobia, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Self harm
eddiford's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
rachel_jozie's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
5.0
*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. When I saw Judith had a collection of angry queer horror out during Pride Month, I had to scoop it up immediately! One of the stories in this collection, ‘Liquid Sick’, was previously published in her collection ‘Something Akin to Revulsion’ and was one of my favorite short stories of the last year. I’ve thought about it countless times since reading it in August of 2022, so I was looking forward to an entire book full of stories that encapsulated that same feeling and, holy nuts, did Judith deliver!
2. So much of this book is absolutely heart-wrenching, but so much of it is also incredibly triumphant. There’s an air of “we will survive” throughout. Which is utterly terrible, because people shouldn’t have to fight so damn hard for basic human rights. This can be said for so many more communities than just the LGBTQIA+ community, however, it’s Pride month and I’m pansexual, so that’s where I’m focusing today. An ENTIRE population of people right now, in the year 2023, is fighting for things they shouldn’t have to – the right to just exist, for one. It’s so freaking frustrating. I’m not trans, and I’m a queer white woman in a straight-passing relationship, so I can’t even begin to know how deep the pain goes, but I want to experience as much as I can through other people’s eyes, in order to be a better ally and friend to those who experience the bulk of the bigotry and hate. This book helped me dip into those feelings, and I was absolutely wrecked more than once.
3. I tore through this masterpiece in a day. A work day, mind you, so time wasn’t easy to come by. I loved each story so much, but the ones that really hit me in the feels are:
a. ‘A Pale Angel With Bright Red Eyes’ – This one took me on an emotional roller-coaster. Ups and downs, and sideways…and the end was so utterly triumphant that I couldn’t help but shed tears of both sadness and of a sense of victory. I’d love it if Judith took the MC, Mazey, and expanded on her journey. I could really get down with that tale of revenge.
b. ‘Afterword’ – this is meta in the best kind of way. Judith typically does an amazing wrap-up of her work at the end, so that’s 100% what I thought this was, and in a way, it is, but it’s way more than that.
c. ‘They Want Us Gone’ – I cried like a baby. I messaged Judith. My soul felt like it was ripped from my body and I was mourning for all my rainbow siblings. All those who have lost their bio families due to being true to themselves. All those who are being told they’re not able to display family photos in their workspace because somehow their family is “less than” or “wrong”. All those who wake up every single morning to fight a fight I, thankfully, am not personally experiencing. It made me realize how important that fight is and how honored I am to share in such a beautiful community.
4. BE BETTER. It’s 2023…people shouldn’t still be fighting for Basic. Human. Rights. Holy effing crud.
1. When I saw Judith had a collection of angry queer horror out during Pride Month, I had to scoop it up immediately! One of the stories in this collection, ‘Liquid Sick’, was previously published in her collection ‘Something Akin to Revulsion’ and was one of my favorite short stories of the last year. I’ve thought about it countless times since reading it in August of 2022, so I was looking forward to an entire book full of stories that encapsulated that same feeling and, holy nuts, did Judith deliver!
2. So much of this book is absolutely heart-wrenching, but so much of it is also incredibly triumphant. There’s an air of “we will survive” throughout. Which is utterly terrible, because people shouldn’t have to fight so damn hard for basic human rights. This can be said for so many more communities than just the LGBTQIA+ community, however, it’s Pride month and I’m pansexual, so that’s where I’m focusing today. An ENTIRE population of people right now, in the year 2023, is fighting for things they shouldn’t have to – the right to just exist, for one. It’s so freaking frustrating. I’m not trans, and I’m a queer white woman in a straight-passing relationship, so I can’t even begin to know how deep the pain goes, but I want to experience as much as I can through other people’s eyes, in order to be a better ally and friend to those who experience the bulk of the bigotry and hate. This book helped me dip into those feelings, and I was absolutely wrecked more than once.
3. I tore through this masterpiece in a day. A work day, mind you, so time wasn’t easy to come by. I loved each story so much, but the ones that really hit me in the feels are:
a. ‘A Pale Angel With Bright Red Eyes’ – This one took me on an emotional roller-coaster. Ups and downs, and sideways…and the end was so utterly triumphant that I couldn’t help but shed tears of both sadness and of a sense of victory. I’d love it if Judith took the MC, Mazey, and expanded on her journey. I could really get down with that tale of revenge.
b. ‘Afterword’ – this is meta in the best kind of way. Judith typically does an amazing wrap-up of her work at the end, so that’s 100% what I thought this was, and in a way, it is, but it’s way more than that.
c. ‘They Want Us Gone’ – I cried like a baby. I messaged Judith. My soul felt like it was ripped from my body and I was mourning for all my rainbow siblings. All those who have lost their bio families due to being true to themselves. All those who are being told they’re not able to display family photos in their workspace because somehow their family is “less than” or “wrong”. All those who wake up every single morning to fight a fight I, thankfully, am not personally experiencing. It made me realize how important that fight is and how honored I am to share in such a beautiful community.
4. BE BETTER. It’s 2023…people shouldn’t still be fighting for Basic. Human. Rights. Holy effing crud.
simplysonia's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? N/A
5.0
I could not be more happy than to have this collection be my first dive into the work of Judith Sonnet. I felt so many emotions while reading these stories but most of all I felt humbled. It's so easy to feel educated regarding these issues, but it is a whole other thing to read them through someone else's mind. I needed this re-education. My heart felt ripped into pieces with most stories and I sincerely thank the author for putting a piece of their soul into this book. Thank you for writing this and for opening my eyes even wider than I thought they were.
raincorbyn's review
challenging
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75