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loki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
However, at times it felt like it was being deliberately provocative, rather than provocative in the service of the overall artistry of the book. Not that I fault the author for that - I think every queer creator should create art as disgusting as they want it to be - but it did affect my enjoyment of the book personally. There were also some elements of the discourse around race and homophobia that felt a little off colour, but in all honesty I would need to do more research to comment on that intelligently.
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Racism
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was absolutely repugnant to read, and frankly not enjoyable. The characters all sucked in their own ways, some more than others obviously - the discourse on HIV/AIDS was heinous and the grotesque descriptions of carrion and murder were horrifyingly indulgent. The love affair with abuse that all the characters (even the good ones) seemed to foster was gross as well.
I’m not naïve in expecting this book to be pleasant reading, but it could’ve been done in such a better way. This was just literal torture porn. In addition one of the fundamental plot points is just… unbelievable? Andrew somehow managing to basically die without actually dying, getting the better of actual medical professionals and then coming back to consciousness at the exact right time? Sure. Made the whole book even more ridiculous.
I wouldn’t recommend this even if it was good, but it wasn’t. So what’s the point?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
moranguinhos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
Minor: Vomit and Police brutality
cristinarivas88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
bahyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
rosesofthespring's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Incest, and Infertility
Explicit descriptions and discussion of HIV/AIDS in the 80s gay scene. Significant anti-Asian racism. Granted it all comes from characters who are meant to be despicable, but it is still constant.lovelylilelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
natreviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's told from four different perspectives. Three third-person, one first. Two murderers, one victim, and one the victims ex-lover. It was really interesting to read it this way. It was an interesting stylistic choice that actually ended up working. With also having the background set in 1990's New Orleans during the AIDs crisis, it's an interesting read just from a historical standpoint.
I will give you the warning that you will need to read the last 60-100 pages in one sitting. On the final day/night the book takes place, it really ramps up and is just better in one sitting.
I gave this book a 5/5 not only for the story (because even though it's extremally disturbing, it still is a good story), but for how it's written. It's a read that is worth it if you can handle it, but, like Tender is the Flesh, is a book that I don't think I will read again. Once was enough in my opinion.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
shinsoukoku's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
but ill admit i, personally, wanted it to be more than what it was and expand on more on the social commentary because it's the moments where the characters are simply existing in a society that doesn't want them to that really unsettled me. it would've helped understanding the fetishistic descriptions of tran (which i think is probably on purpose) in the eyes of white men as something that actually serves a purpose. but it falls flat and it's interactions with it's setting and the intersecting identities within them is shallow.
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, and Police brutality
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Incest, Infidelity, Slavery, and Abandonment
asian fetishizationanthuriumskies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail