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Check all the trigger warning friends this is a dark one, but absolutely worth the read if post apocalyptic spec fic with some religious trauma is your jam.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
However, I think this book IS OF IMPORTANCE.
I’m an ex Catholic and I thought I’d enjoy this because it has overt themes relating to Opus Dei (a sect of Catholicism that contributes huge amounts of money to the Catholic Church). I am highly critical of Catholic people and condemn their entire religion as a cult. Opus Dei specifically reminded me of this book because of the self flagellation that Opus Dei members participate in (to this day).
All that religious trauma being considered, I thought I would appreciate a book that seemed referential to the way Catholicism and specifically Opus Dei functions. Did I enjoy the way the themes of these religious cults were presented? Sure!
I think the gore was fascinating at points and the levels within the cult’s hierarchy were fascinating. I also got a big laugh out of “the erroneous God, the false son, and the negative mother” (112) for ex Catholic reasons…
I know that this book was written by someone who went to Catholic School TM and A BAD OPPRESSIVE ONE. (Which one isn’t though? :)) I do have sympathy for her experience! I appreciate her perspective and how she has translated her traumatic experiences into this book for other people to experience and hopefully understand(not likely, everyone kisses the Pope’s butt). This book does bring up the idea of Paganism towards the end especially and blatantly. I appreciate that perspective as an atheist who much prefers Paganism to a cult like Catholicism or whatever other cult that masquerades as a religion. Speaking of, the ending feels like it’s referencing Mormonism, specifically Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalists… ALSO the cult leader reminds me of JIM JONES when Jim Jones would just yell fear mongering brainwashing statements at his cult over loud speakers while hiding in his room… (ya know?, the guy who made everyone drink the Koolaid!)
Trigger warnings:
please be warned that rape is spoken of on the following pages: 140-141, 169, 172
animal torture and death of a cat is spoken of here: 142-143
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death
Graphic: Body horror, Rape
At the beginning, I had difficultly to get into the story. The narrative was unreliable and jumped back and forth between past and present. With the gruesome depiction of body horror and cult practice, the whole read felt like a fever dream.
But I ended up liking it. The last part of the story went fast and strong. The resilience and compassion of the main female characters were carried out nicely. The tragic ending nonetheless shone a dim light of hope.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder
Moderate: Drug use
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Torture, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
Graphic: Body horror
Minor: Sexual assault
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy