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Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Dysphoria
Maybe it's because I read them back to back, but I can't help but compare this to Evocation. There was so much that worked well here that failed there. For one, the society in this book is purposefully elusive and vauge because our protagonist isn't allowed to be part of that group, therefore doesn't know much about the goings on. Compared to Evocation where the occult society is such an important aspect of 2 of the main characters lives (both are running for president or whatever) but we know fuckall about the society. And the characters here felt so much more vibrant and tangible after suffering through the flat characters in Evocation.
TLDR; I loved this book very very much. I was tabbing the hell out of it and writing down so many quotes in my commonplace book. I will definitely want to read this again in the future and I'm excited to read everything else AJW publishes (especially his debut adult novel coming out later this year!)
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Sexism, Suicide, Kidnapping
Minor: Rape, Self harm
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder
Moderate: Deadnaming, Miscarriage, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide attempt
It's heavy and though there are obvious sci-fi/fantasy elements so much of the historically accurate abuse of those deemed "unwell" in the time period the story is set in is difficult to stomach and so necessary to learn about.
Highly recommend a read! Especially if you like the authors other works but aren't typically into works with historical fiction aspects because that's how I decided to read it and was not disappointed!
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Self harm
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Chronic illness
Points for aheartfelt love story and going beyond the usual YA horror tropes!
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Murder
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Dysphoria
Minor: Miscarriage
The way the plot was going was predictable for me, which is saying a lot, because I’m not good with catching foreshadowing and stuff.
There was a lot of repetition and it was really hammered into me that Silas is autistic. After a while, I was like “okay, I get it, I REMEMBER what he’s like and how he acts bc of his autism”. Some of it could’ve been edited out in my opinion. Because of this, it feels like it was written for a younger YA audience. (Or I just don’t know what the reading level for older teens around Silas’ age is like 💀)
I’m glad that they were able to have their happy ever after after everything that they’ve been through.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Dysphoria
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, War
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment