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cass_lit's review
2.25
1) The format. These were short stories that didn’t seem interconnected, but most (I think at least one wasn’t) were told in first person. This means as soon as you figure out who your narrator is, because there’s no omniscient one to tell you, you’re moving onto another narrator. I don’t dislike short stories or essays as a rule, but this one really didn’t work for me.
2) The content. What the fuck. I get that it’s macabre intentionally and meant to reflect the horror of reality, but when these topics are brought up in short stories like this without the space to discuss them… it just feels exploitative.
Some examples, though I’m sure I’m forgetting a few (*trigger and spoiler warnings ahead*): child abuse, child rape, child murder, child neglect, alcohol and drug abuse, rape, murder, abuse, animal cruelty (including eating of a live cat), use of the r-word and racist/xenophobic/classist language. And again — I get that these are unfortunately real horrors sometimes (or are meant to represent other real issues), but *I* don’t like when there’s no discussion on them apart from their shock value.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Excrement, Sexual violence, Child death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Rape, Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Moderate: Police brutality, Body horror, Body shaming, and Classism
Minor: Lesbophobia and Gaslighting
millieinks'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Self harm, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Violence, Death, Murder, Alcohol, Child abuse, Animal death, Child death, Rape, and Blood
dakotahreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Excrement, and Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Abortion, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Animal death, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Racism
kelisabeth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Addiction, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Transphobia
aisabel'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, Death, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
li22ie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Rape, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, and Torture
annabelle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
As with all collections, some stories were more gripping than others. I definitely recommend if you are looking for something spooky and atmospheric, but trigger warning for like everything.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Death, Police brutality, Self harm, Murder, Child death, and Body horror
florencia_rodriguez's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Suicide, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death
hannahleewhite's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Mental illness
Moderate: Child death, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Police brutality, and Addiction