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willow_the_wisp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
storyorc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Both setting and characters enjoyed depth and nuance. The noble son and his wife show their wounds as well as their cruelties, and their land has beautiful ice-monsters as well as lethal storms. It also supports a dwindling native culture of people who lived in caves, sported tails, and worshipped dog gods fallen from the sky. The baron's mute house boy, Emil, is one such descendant and a welcome, though mysterious, bright spot amidst all the rot.
It's a shame the focus drifts away from the Institute as the story unfolds. It leaves in its place a solid gothic mystery and tale of rebellion but these didn't quite fill the hole for me, since exploring such an unusual, morally-grey narrator was my main point of fascination. Learning that the author is a medical student frames the criticisms of the Institute in an interesting way, however; there is much to critisize. The book also continues to explore identity, just
Recommended for fans of: classical gothic literature, Mexican Gothic, Pathologic (the game), Sherlock Holmes (specifically if you read the books because of the BBC show, not because this is like the BBC show but because if you were a big enough fan of the show to read the books, odds are you're in gay tumblr crowd that would also be into the identity exploration in the second half)
Graphic: Body horror, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Rape
eb2701's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
That said, the prose is excellent and the structure of the book is very strong. I really enjoyed the throughlines of folklore and supernatural imagery, and the subtextual richness of parasitism as metaphor, parallelism both class oppression and the insidious nature of sexual abuse. The overall gothic framework functions perfectly, and the body horror is great.
Graphic: Gore, Medical content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Body horror, Death, and Murder
oriana095's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, and Medical content
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Rape, Physical abuse, and Murder
saving_sydney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Rape
takarakei'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? Yes
Graphic: Body horror, Medical content, and Gore
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma
flindermouse's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Rape
pantaruja's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Genocide, Suicide, Drug use, Dysphoria, Ableism, and Alcoholism
purplekat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Gore, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
voxvenati's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
So many of the things I could say in favor of this book are spoilers, but even the premise alone is a treat. I can’t express how often I’m let down after a promising synopsis and excellent first chapter. This was not one of those times.
Every chapter builds. Tension. Drama. Intrigue. Every character was crisp and distinct. Every nugget of world building fascinated me. The dialect of the locals. The fables. The history. I am left wanting. Ravenous for more.
It’s dense. It can be clinical at times. I loved it because it fits the narrative. And it does start to change.
I have never had such a seamless experience reading about LGBTQ+ characters where they just are. It isn’t clumsy or ham-fisted. It’s natural. It’s real. It was so fucking good.
And my dear dead gods, the slow reveal of the post-apocalypse, that the Institute and Pseudomycota are a part of that of that too? Exquisite.
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars is because I never got that overwhelming sense of dread. Still, pretty damn close.
This is all said with the understanding this is a horror. There are some difficult topics. There is medical horror, body horror, and all sorts of other things. Read the content warnings if you have triggers.
But if the premise piques your interest, and if you’re not too squeamish, this is a must read.
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Suicide, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder, Animal cruelty, and Cannibalism