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Heed the tags, but know that the content is there for a reason. It’s not torture porn or AJWhite trying to hit checklist of horror tropes - it’s a story with real roots.
One small detail that really struck me - from the very end was hearing about
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia
There is a trigger warning given at the start by the author and my God does it need it. If you are turned off by graphic descriptions of medical procedures and gore then this is not the book for you. Honestly I'm surprised I survived it! Silas cannot go a couple pages without being beaten or attacked or having to hastily stitch up life threatening injuries with a sewing kit. The book was so graphic in these areas and also contained so much swearing and references to sexual assault I was astounded it was rated as "teen". Definitely one for older teens (with strong stomachs!)
But despite that the story was strong, if a little predictable at times, and it had me hooked all the way through. It was very fast paced so it always kept you on your toes. Daphne and Silas's romance was sweet and I enjoyed the dynamics between all the girls. But most of all it was a visceral, gory, un-censored view of what it is like to claw your way to survival in a world that is forcing you into boxes you desperately don't want to be in. Incredibly glad I wasn't a woman in the victorian era, fucking hell!
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Dysphoria
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Heart wrenching & raw. Incredibly vivid imagery and effectively reflective writing.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Pregnancy
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion
Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, Medical content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage
I'd love to read a second book with these characters, or at least in this world, maybe diving into more of the supernatural elements. But as it is, it's a really good stand alone.
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Pregnancy, Outing, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria