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Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Outing, Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Miscarriage
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Abortion, Murder
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault
I hardly ever read horror, but maybe I should do that more often because I loved this. Definitely check out the trigger warnings if you are sensitive with topics around descriptions of surgery. While I wouldn't be able to watch this as a movie, I have no problem with it in books and found these aspects quite interesting 👀
1883 London. People with violet eyes are able to lift the veil and commune with spirits. These mediums are called Speakers, and the Royal Speaker Society controls who gets a license to do spirit work and who doesn't. Women are forbidden to use these natural gifts and are only expected to become Speaker wives to give birth to violet-eyed children. Those who don't fit the mold are said to be sick with Veil sickness, driving them mad. So they get sent to the Braxton's Finishing School and Sanitorium, where they "fix" them and make good brides out of them. Being trans and autistic, this is where our main character, Silas (who wanted to become a surgeon and not somebodys wife), is sent as well.
As you can see, there is much to explain about the story, and I didn't even cover everything from the blurb. It took me a while to get into the story, but when he finally arrives at the school, it gets more and more interesting. I thought it was kinda obvious what was going on, but I didn't read this as a mystery, so it didn't bother me.
This story is mainly about the mistreatment and oppression of people that are "other." A lot of misogyny/sexism, ableism, transphobia, and general cruelty. So be prepared to be angry and sad. That said, it is also a lot about their rage, revenge, finding community in dark places, and pushing for survival.
The characters are well made. We don't have too much time to focus on the side ones, but that makes sense with the story, and the main character was just soo relatable for me! I am trans-masc, and some of his thoughts felt so close to mine. Especially the fear of pregnancy (it's one of my biggest fears in life), but also things like still feeling companionship with women, since they are being treated the same. I can't mention everything, but his inner workings were the highlight of the book for me. Just the way he described things (btw words like trans and autistic are, of course, not used since they didn't exist back then (the words, not the people!), but I felt like the descriptions were even more interesting like this because they focused more on the exact feelings rather than using other words for it). Also, with the rabbit in his chest, which I think is meant to symbolize anxiety.
There was even a bit of a love story, but I won't spoil with whom. It was a surprise to me and I really liked them together, even though the feelings came a bit quick imo. It was also really convenient in a way, but same as the mystery, it didn't bother me. While the pacing is relatively slow, after a while, I just couldn't stop reading. I read over 300 pages in one day, which hasn't happened in a long time for me. Maybe I should read out of my comfort zone more often 😂 I definitely will read more from this author!
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Suicide
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
A painfully accurate depiction of the trans & neurodivergent experience. But I am so glad for the snippet of trans joy found in Daphne and Silas’ relationship.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Deadnaming, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit
Minor: Pregnancy
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Transphobia