Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

35 reviews

messyread's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-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

5.0

Honestly, this book was just so personal to me. I usually avoid latinx stories in fear that I won't relate and will feel invalidated in my identity, but this book really strengthened my love for my culture. I cried a lot while reading, but not because the story was necessarily sad, but because I had finally seen another trans latinx person trying to navigate their community. In the end, all these characters were unapologetically themselves and I think it's important for readers to get to witness that in places where they can see themselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Transphobia, Murder, and Dysphoria

Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent

troisha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Transphobia

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body horror, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Child abuse

emily_mh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book definitely shone in how real the characters and their relationships with one another felt, as well as how rich and descriptive the writing was, especially when it came to showing Latinx religion and culture. However, for about 60-70% of this book I wasn't really looking forward to picking it back up when I put it down for the day. I think this was because the pacing of this portion of the book was VERY slow (due in part to repeating information), and in the beginning it was quite info-dumpy. For this reason, I was looking at giving this a 3.5 stars but the ending really got to me.

While the initial conflict of the ending felt anticlimactic,

the resurrection conflict totally gripped me

. The ending also had me completely taken by Yadriel and Julian's relationship and how fiercely they loved each other. Finally, I found the epilogue really moving. These three elements cemented this book as a 4 star. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Deadnaming, Racism, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Body shaming, Animal death, Cursing, Alcohol, Drug use, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Car accident, Body horror, Vomit, Ableism, and Medical content

mburnsides's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

the ending with

tio catriz

felt rushed and out of character but overall enjoyable

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Minor: Body horror, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Racism, and Kidnapping

hmatt's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

There were a couple of aspects of this book that I really loved, and some things that annoyed me.

To start - THIS was what I wanted from Mexican Gothic in terms of incorporating the culture. Not just a wee sprinkle here and there, you're in it. Fantastic. To add to this, I loved that not every Spanish phrase was translated. It felt like it was written for Latinx readers first, and other readers after. Very cool.

I always enjoy when the narrator matches the perspective character, and in this case that was true, but I felt that this narrator sometimes put weird emphasis on the wrong words in a sentence. It was like they hadn't read the passage in advance of reading it aloud and were surprised by its pacing. Words hang off the edge of sentences where you can tell how it was written is not how it's being read. However, I respect that the author/publisher sought out a trans, Latinx narrator and I guess this might just be a first-time-narrating thing.

Remainder of the review contains BIG spoilers.

I was left a little peeved that some minor plot bits weren't resolved. In these instances, it felt as though the author bit off a bit more than they could chew. Example: we never learn how Yadriel's mother really died - a car accident is mentioned but it's heavily hinted that there is more to the story. But we never circle back around to it.

I also felt like Maritza was brushed to the side in the latter half of the book. I know she technically got her glory and all that, but I would have preferred a bit more fanfare.

I left the book feeling a bit disappointed that it was a romance. There was a moment, when Luca was introduced, that I thought he could have been Julian's love interest. I think it could have been just as strong and interesting if this had been the case, or if no one was paired, but I can see the significance of Yadriel getting a romance plot too.

Now. Okay. Biggest piss off.
Did we really need to play into the "loner evil uncle" trope? I really think this book could have done better. And then it's just BRUSHED OFF by the family, even though we've repeatedly been told how important family is to these people. It didn't fit. Catriz as the uncle who is also isolated from the family but supports and stands up for Yadriel? Winner. So much potential. I was SEETHING when I figured out this was how it was going to go down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Medical content and Murder

totallyshelfaware's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• 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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Blood, Body horror, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death of parent and Grief

icannotweave's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Death, Transphobia, and Child death

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Car accident and Police brutality

pastelkerstin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

On the one hand, the whole murder mystery was incredibly predictable, with grandma asking whether anyone has seen the plot device multiple times and there only being one person who has an obvious motif for using said plot device.
On the other hand I love these characters and they have all my uwus, so. 4 stars. A good time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Drug use, Gun violence, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Self harm

Fire, misgendering, gender dysphoria, mentions of deportation, mentions of gang violence, racist discrimination by police

writewithapendragon's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Hi I love this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Transphobia, Murder, Kidnapping, and Blood

Minor: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Gore, and Grief

transphobia is resolved among Yads’ family by the end of the book.

oliverlang's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Transphobia, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Deadnaming