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benjiaprout's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The prose is very readable, and the premise is interesting. But considering my copy had a Stephen King quote saying it scared the hell out of him, I'm confused. It was grim, sure, utterly disgusting - the worst body horror I'd read and I've had a mosey about. It made me feel sick, but not scared, there wasn't an awful lot of suspense as the basic plot gets spoiled relatively early on and anyone with decent grasp of story and character can guess where the plot and scouts will end up. Not bad, but I'm not as impressed as I hoped to be, seeing as I'd seen so many people recommend it.
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Stalking, Violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, and Torture
leigha_bugz's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Gore, Cannibalism, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Fire/Fire injury
rainy_daze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Eating disorder, Blood, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Body horror, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, and Violence
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Eerie isolated island (specifically an island off the coast of Prince Edward Island in Canada) and I felt it. I couldn't wait to get off, which made this book feel SO long but I couldn't skim for fear of missing something.
Main POVs: 👍
Omniscient third party narrative voice works really well for giving us different perspectives on the horrors (some characters are more willing to get closer to the situation for reasons that range from saving lives to taking them).
-A general physician and troop leader who is relatable but maybe too idealistic. They are childfree by choice and view their troop leadership role as a way to mentor younger generations
-14 year old golden child trying desperately to meet the standards set by their hypocritical parent
-14 year old bookish, empathetic, nature-loving know-it-all who isn't great at reading the room
-14 year old loyal but skeptical best friend
-14 year old rotting on the inside long before the invasion
-14 year old battling an innate and learned tendency for raging under stress
-epistolary documents (interviews, academic reports, evidence logs and diary entries)
Show'n'tell: 👌
All show through vivid similes and after-the-fact hints via legal and scientific documents. The crayon melted, there are weird bugs in the box, half the class is crying.
Cred rating: 👍👩🔬
Plausible within the narrative universe or suspended disbelief within ours. I feel like there was a bit of a stretch on the ability to manipulate any worm genome to this extent even under pharmaceutical and military NDAs. However, it probably isn't impossible in theory, so go in ready to enjoy the ride and forget the textbooks.
Reading Journey: 👍
Hiking or off-roading and you start finding some disturbing, but seemingly natural things out in the woods. GET OUT NOW but also can't stop looking for more on the way out.
Great match if you like:
-Amplified but realistic body horror
-Creature feature (featuring small but mighty creatures)
-Mad scientist, science gone wrong energy
-Isolated island situation
-Coming-of-age tropes
-Writing and POVs that make you wonder what you would do in that situation
-Survival thrillers
Vibes: 🤢😮💨🫣
Format: Kindle Unlimited
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Body horror
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Fatphobia
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
dezaraemd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, Animal death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, War, and Domestic abuse
ghostbirds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Animal death, Body horror, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, Fatphobia, Gore, Murder, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body shaming, and Grief
Minor: Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Eating disorder, Cursing, Cannibalism, Vomit, Homophobia, and Alcohol
ladyinverse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Self harm, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Bullying, Gore, Violence, Confinement, Cannibalism, Murder, Cursing, Abandonment, Stalking, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Animal death
major tw for very descriptive animal death/cruelty from pages 194-198 specifically about a cat. i couldn't read those pages but just glanced to see when it ended.randanopterix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Not for even the remotely faint of heart, I usually have a strong stomach for media like this but event I had to avoid the book for a couple of days when my real life got stressful.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Suicide, Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Torture, Blood, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Body horror, Mental illness, Cannibalism, Child death, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Abandonment, Confinement, Abortion, Miscarriage, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Fatphobia, Grief, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
otherworlds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Self harm, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, and Gore
sparetimebibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Gore