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figsofpeach's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Gore
Moderate: Transphobia and Violence
bookishmillennial's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Parts of this book *enraged* me, like I was so goddamn annoyed and exhausted of Sammie's cishet male friends, and one "pick me" cishet female friend. Sammie is chosen to be their best friend Adam's "best man" for Adam's upcoming nuptials. However, Sammie's wife encourages them to either skip the weekend or even re-assess the friendship (which was my reaction too, but I also deeply related to the resignation that Sammie felt in just wanting to "get through the weekend," and not "cause any drama". I wanted to hug them so bad.)
Sammie endures so much toxic masculinity, dudebro surface-level talk about money/MLM schemes/hating their wives/sports, and generally homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic rhetoric from this group of dusty crusty cishet dudebros, and it is *insufferable*, yet it is so authentic to my lived experience of whenever I'm in a room full of assholes. I also just wanted to scream when Adam made Sammie's transition about him, yelling, "It's a lot for me to handle too, you know" (idk if that's an exact quotation, but it's essentially what he said, and I wanted to smack him).
Adam could've stood up for his friend with so much more conviction and compassion, but alas, he's corny and I hate him. Irredeemable, I don't care hahaha. Being complicit and silent is just as bad, if not worse than being blatantly transphobic, because you're allowing the behavior and not making it crystal clear that you do not stand for the horrific behavior. Don't bother reposting any stories about allyship, on social media Adam!
The horror aspects of this graphic novel were the parts I kind of glossed over, because I was more invested in Sammie's story. However, it was gnarly and grisly!!!! The illustrations were really unique and edgy, compared to other graphic novels I have read lately, which I appreciated.
Parts of this book *enraged* me, like I was so goddamn annoyed and exhausted of Sammie's cishet male friends, and one "pick me" cishet female friend. Sammie is chosen to be their best friend Adam's "best man" for Adam's upcoming nuptials. However, Sammie's wife encourages them to either skip the weekend or even re-assess the friendship (which was my reaction too, but I also deeply related to the resignation that Sammie felt in just wanting to "get through the weekend," and not "cause any drama". I wanted to hug them so bad.)
Sammie endures so much toxic masculinity, dudebro surface-level talk about money/MLM schemes/hating their wives/sports, and generally homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic rhetoric from this group of dusty crusty cishet dudebros, and it is *insufferable*, yet it is so authentic to my lived experience of whenever I'm in a room full of assholes. I also just wanted to scream when Adam made Sammie's transition about him, yelling, "It's a lot for me to handle too, you know" (idk if that's an exact quotation, but it's essentially what he said, and I wanted to smack him).
Adam could've stood up for his friend with so much more conviction and compassion, but alas, he's corny and I hate him. Irredeemable, I don't care hahaha. Being complicit and silent is just as bad, if not worse than being blatantly transphobic, because you're allowing the behavior and not making it crystal clear that you do not stand for the horrific behavior. Don't bother reposting any stories about allyship, on social media Adam!
The horror aspects of this graphic novel were the parts I kind of glossed over, because I was more invested in Sammie's story. However, it was gnarly and grisly!!!! The illustrations were really unique and edgy, compared to other graphic novels I have read lately, which I appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Sexism, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
macjack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Brilliantly done story of a trans “final girl” against “the many-tentacled monster of gender and capitalism.” Absolutely devoured this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Deadnaming, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Gore
obscurepages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I JUST KNOW THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE.
This was just fantastic. I didn't have much expectations now did I know a lot about this book. I just knew it was horror and it features a transfemme MC. But wow, this gave me a lot to think about.
Imagine a mystery/horror story in a vibrant, yet eerie setting, and there's a cult, and there are monsters. You're trying to talk to guys, but all you get is misogyny and transphobia and judgment. And then you're trying to understand and save the people who don't even try to understand you. And at the end, it's just hilarious and creepy and touching.
Sammie as an MC is compelling. You see the story unfold through their eyes, but also, you see how the world functions and treats them unfairly. This book shows a fraction of what it's like to exist as a transfemme, queer person in a capitalist, misogynistic, and patriarchal society. It's hard and it's heartbreaking. And yet, this book also shows that Sammie has a lot of things to be proud of and to look forward to. That we don't have to look at ourselves or our past selves and hate them.
Loved the colors and the art of course! My only complaint? Maybe I would have loved more world-building and action. Apart from that, this was so good. And I would really like to see this as a movie.
Exact rating: 4.25 ⭐️
CW: blood, gore, violence, body horror, dismemberment, misogyny, trans misogyny, transphobia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Blood, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Transphobia, and Homophobia
ems_book_shelf's review
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Toxic friendship, Gore, and Alcohol
kleinekita's review
funny
fast-paced
5.0
A fun horror comedy! I loved the satirical bits of capitalist hellscape sprinkled throughout the background.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Minor: Blood, Gore, and Death
booksatlunch's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
My biggest complaint is that I wish this had been longer. A quick little horror comedy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Gore
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Murder, and Transphobia
Minor: Cannibalism
abookwormspov's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is an excellent book! I read it all in one sitting and just loved it all. I did read the content warnings but I wasn't prepared for how violent the last chapter was compared to the rest of the book haha. But the ending is absolutely perfect!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Gore
courtreadsney's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Wow. I love graphic novels and even though this is outside my typical genre I devoured it. I love queer stories and this one was so beautifully, horrifically told. The community love could be felt through the page. Our main character Sammie, however also had to deal with a lot of transphobic bull sh**. The development of the story was gruesome, weird, and felt like a whole trip but overall somehow I found myself emotional and touched by the ending.
There were a couple points were I didn't fully understand the intended delivery and think that lack of understanding minimized the impact in those couple areas for me, but honestly that is likely just a small incompatibility between myself and the writing style choices in those parts.
It's a whole experience and if you like weird twists, a transfeminine main character, and a little horror/gore you should experience it for yourself.
There were a couple points were I didn't fully understand the intended delivery and think that lack of understanding minimized the impact in those couple areas for me, but honestly that is likely just a small incompatibility between myself and the writing style choices in those parts.
It's a whole experience and if you like weird twists, a transfeminine main character, and a little horror/gore you should experience it for yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Blood, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Transphobia and Drug use