Reviews tagging 'Mass/school shootings'

Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin

2 reviews

shrikebait's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Cuckoo is a love letter to queer resistance. 

Felker-Martin explores so many diverse, distinct, and developed characters while maintaining an easy-to-follow central narrative. I especially loved the unflinching examination of gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia as these kids battle both internal and external demons. 

There is so much packed into these pages that I thought the book was longer than it actually is...in a good way. I found the details immersive and delighted when they pay off. 

I'm grateful to Tor Nightfire for the chance to check this ARC out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Mass/school shootings, Outing, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Excrement, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Biphobia, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Cursing, Eating disorder, Incest, Racial slurs, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Transphobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cancer, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Car accident, Confinement, and Rape

Minor: Islamophobia and Terminal illness

sydnec's review

challenging dark sad tense slow-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? No

2.75

This was a slog. One character would ask a question and multiple paragraphs of description later, there would be a response. Don't know how many times I read about the smell of cum and the taste of blood and various slits compared to body orifices. The premise is great and could have really been terrifying if I didn't have to read through so much unnecessary description. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Body shaming, Excrement, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Torture, Blood, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Child death, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Mass/school shootings, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Sexual assault