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thisisnotnina's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
2.0
Triggers are everywhere in this book. I'm still not sure what I just read. It was interesting and strange, weirdly written and disturbing. Good luck.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death
ravenpuffrising's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The tone and identity of the subjects of this book very much relish in the weird and shocking, taking on an unflinching daring with matters that are taboo, gross and for some even inappropriate at times, morbid, and hazy.
It kind of reminded me of a horror intellectual dark academia take on The Craft with ample inspirations from classic luring horror stories including everything from the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe to creepypastas.
Within these inspirations Jawbone focuses on dark psychology of flawed, even perverse, curious, and conflicted women, exploring lines between sexuality, femineity, and feeling alive through pain and pleasure- both physical and psychological. It won't work for most people especially with the mix of morbid sexuality and violence it plays with, but I largely was just rather fascinated with the complex psychology and exploratory ideas here. It's a book that shines in its incredibly unique identity, primal instincts, and intellectual questioning. The vibe and psychology here are enough of a wild ride, yet one utterly unrestricted that alone is enough to make it quite extraordinary and a worthwhile venture.
It's bigger flaw for me was not the extremism with the taboos it plays with (although even as someone who consumes some pretty bizarre fiction it did have me marveling in just how weird and morbid these girls were at times), but that for all its interesting psychology and rhetoric it doesn't quite settle on a true, focused story or ending sentiment for you to take away, becoming a bit muddled. I think a stronger focus or finish would have been the thing to push it above to a truly memorable and impactful story for me. Even so, I accept it's right to be more about the exploration than the end journey. In the end, it manages to honor its inspirations while bridging into something totally its own.
It kind of reminded me of a horror intellectual dark academia take on The Craft with ample inspirations from classic luring horror stories including everything from the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe to creepypastas.
Within these inspirations Jawbone focuses on dark psychology of flawed, even perverse, curious, and conflicted women, exploring lines between sexuality, femineity, and feeling alive through pain and pleasure- both physical and psychological. It won't work for most people especially with the mix of morbid sexuality and violence it plays with, but I largely was just rather fascinated with the complex psychology and exploratory ideas here. It's a book that shines in its incredibly unique identity, primal instincts, and intellectual questioning. The vibe and psychology here are enough of a wild ride, yet one utterly unrestricted that alone is enough to make it quite extraordinary and a worthwhile venture.
It's bigger flaw for me was not the extremism with the taboos it plays with (although even as someone who consumes some pretty bizarre fiction it did have me marveling in just how weird and morbid these girls were at times), but that for all its interesting psychology and rhetoric it doesn't quite settle on a true, focused story or ending sentiment for you to take away, becoming a bit muddled. I think a stronger focus or finish would have been the thing to push it above to a truly memorable and impactful story for me. Even so, I accept it's right to be more about the exploration than the end journey. In the end, it manages to honor its inspirations while bridging into something totally its own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
ccbrodz's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
chainsawheartbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
"My therapist says when you talk out loud without stopping for a long time, and you really listen to yourself, the mysteries end up coming out of the tangle of your subconscious."
If Ojeda doesn’t become a big name in literary horror, alongside the likes of Jackson, Shelley and Poe, then no one should.
Given how literary this book is, it took me a while to get through it, but that doesn’t mean this book isn’t horrifyingly beautiful and macabre.
Each character read so differently from one another, I loved diving into each character’s subconscious, seeing where their biases came in.
I’ve always found tales about cosmic horror and the occult fascinating, especially when consumed together; the aspect of putting an ethereal being into our reality in a way that doesn’t feel forced can be so difficult to do, but in my opinion Odeja handles this perfectly!
Above all else, this tale is about friendship, puberty, motherhood, and the perception of an ideal self.
If you want a slower read that still leaves you a deep sense of horror, a feeling of seeing things in the light and hearing the fluttering of lashes in the dark, then you should put this to the top of your list!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
eevvee's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
This book is an incredibly unique piece of literature and story telling. It’s terrifying, unsettling, and truly amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
pcaldwel's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Toxic friendship
rmnedder's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the most disturbing, beautifully written books I've ever read. The prose is profound and profane and evocative in all its weirdness, the characters are complex and deeply appalling (which makes them all the more likable), and the narrative mosaic of times and formats and styles creates a patchwork quilt that keeps the dread and tension simmering the whole way through. It's a brilliantly perverse meditation on change and adolescence and desire, and I Will be thinking about it for ages to come. Definitely read the content warnings on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Homophobia
beraspa's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Me he quedado blanca
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
pil4r's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mandíbula es un trabajo de ficción literaria latinoamericana completamente perturbador y atrapante.
El protagonismo está tomado por mujeres problemáticas pero sobre todo por los vínculos oscuros y pegajosos entre ellas. La adolescencia femenina se erige como algo espeso, turbio, que brilla entreteniendose con el peligro y la violencia. La agresión e incomprensión signan los roles de hijas y madres.
La trama juega inteligentemente con la construcción de la intriga y un horror blanco, coqueteando con todos los límites. Ojeda da una clase magistral -a veces pecando de cierta pretensión, es cierto- muy psicoanalista y extremadamente cinematográfica sobre esto, sobre la intersección entre el miedo, el deseo, la violencia y las mujeres.
El libro es oscuro, retorcido, pasan muchas cosas al mismo tiempo y, sin embargo, es díficil dejar de ver.
Recomiendo altamente para amantes del terror de la Enríquez, para personas dispuestas a entretenerse y pensar sobre lo problemáticamente endiosado, violento y asqueroso de la adolescencia femenina siempre y cuando no les intimiden ni aburran demasiado los excesos de incisos, subordinadas y referencias a madres lacanianas.
El protagonismo está tomado por mujeres problemáticas pero sobre todo por los vínculos oscuros y pegajosos entre ellas. La adolescencia femenina se erige como algo espeso, turbio, que brilla entreteniendose con el peligro y la violencia. La agresión e incomprensión signan los roles de hijas y madres.
La trama juega inteligentemente con la construcción de la intriga y un horror blanco, coqueteando con todos los límites. Ojeda da una clase magistral -a veces pecando de cierta pretensión, es cierto- muy psicoanalista y extremadamente cinematográfica sobre esto, sobre la intersección entre el miedo, el deseo, la violencia y las mujeres.
El libro es oscuro, retorcido, pasan muchas cosas al mismo tiempo y, sin embargo, es díficil dejar de ver.
Recomiendo altamente para amantes del terror de la Enríquez, para personas dispuestas a entretenerse y pensar sobre lo problemáticamente endiosado, violento y asqueroso de la adolescencia femenina siempre y cuando no les intimiden ni aburran demasiado los excesos de incisos, subordinadas y referencias a madres lacanianas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death and Mental illness
Minor: Religious bigotry
viis97's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Abortion