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bumblebeefarts'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: Blood, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Miscarriage, Infertility, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Pregnancy, and Medical content
Moderate: Rape, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, and Classism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Racism, and Chronic illness
kaylasbewks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cawpile ,, 9.14
this book was outstanding from the completely unique plot, fantastically fleshed out characters and mesmerising writing. it became so much more than i ever expected it to be, i'm still in awe. i will admit that at times i was confused, but by the end of the book i believe i pieced together everything,, even if i haven't, i still loved the experience - the last 25% or so of this book was a rollercoaster of emotions and i couldn't put it down. wow.
i have so many thoughts about this book, 99% of which are positive, but my brain is so frazzled. simply, i'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone who's even remotely interested, but please check the trigger warnings first.
wow. wow? wow. wow. wow.
Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, Death, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Gore, Medical content, Violence, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury
whatthesquids's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
athenian_frog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
BUT think there’s some really interesting reflection from the perspective of such a complex organism that Hiron Ennes includes! That and the character of Émile in general were highlights. The story went in a direction I was really not expecting—in a good way—and the ending was pretty rewarding.
Some of the ideas that strengthen the conclusion that I found in the book—like the value of one’s bodily autonomy—could have been better weaved throughout the book but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
PLEASE READ the content warnings below. Thanks! <3
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Violence, Vomit, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
-the baron’s family (whose mansion is where the majority of the book takes place) generally holds pretty misogynistic beliefs of a woman’s role in the family, specifically that they are “responsible” for having children/a son in particular -a female character has a history of miscarrying, makes one or two dark jokes about it -descriptions of medical procedures that might upset readers including: several instances of needle insertion in various places, sedated/paralyzed patients during a procedure, often without consent, the removal of a parasite fragment from the optic nerve post mortem, descriptions of childbirth - suicide is examined as a possible and very plausible reason that a character dies (via scalpel to the throat) -In the latter half of the book it is implied that a character ends up in an emotionally abusive relationship with a member of the barony. The sex they have (very vague) reads very much as coercive/non consensual because of the power the barony holds over the rest of the people living in the chateau. There are moments of physical abuse as well. - at least two characters vomit, and a couple more have something crawl out of their mouthcadence99's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Ableism, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Medical content
awainwright's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Medical content
hmstaab's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Body horror, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Physical abuse, Excrement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Colonisation, Death, and Rape
willow_the_wisp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
eilif_has_no_gender's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you are considering this book LOOK AT CONTENT WARNINGS FOR THE BOOK! I personally had to add a lot.
The story has characters who are terrible people (Which I personally love. It shows nonantagonists can be terrible people has well) so if you don't like this this book is for sure not for you.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Child death
Moderate: War, Alcohol, and Miscarriage
Minor: Ableism and Death of parent
bethboo'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? It's complicated
5.0
We follow a doctor of the Institute, which is a mind/consciousness that is shared between all it's doctors, unbeknownst to the world. Something has gone wrong up north where the Institute has lost touch with one of it's bodies and they want to get to the bottom of it. Nothing seems to be going right and everything this old being has come to know and what should be easy for the Institute is slipping through their fingers. After their arrival, they discover that some sort of parasite is on the loose in the Baron's estate, but the doctor is losing their grip and can't seem to contain it much less fight it. The Institute has no plan for this.
This book has gothic intrigue and societal scandal and Victorian sci-fi, combining in such a unique story that I feel like this quote from another review sums it all up: "Can you be repulsed and engrossed at the same time??" - Amy Imogene Reads on Goodreads
This one had me on all angles with minimal cringing. I listened to the audio book for this one. I thought the narrator was great though I hated the weird French accent she gave the Baron's son, because it was tough to understand. The world building was amazing by the end of the book where all the pieces fell together, but I will say that about half way through I got a little confused. The characters were the perfect mix of unpleasant, mysterious, and complex. Emile, of course, is baby and should be protected at all costs. The setting is so perfectly gothic, creepy, and Victorian with the plot being such a mix of sci-fi and old fiction. It left me wondering if the MC was just imagining it all, instead of experiencing it. Made it feel dreamy.
The main character doctor was so fascinating, especially when they lost contact with the Institute and they became so desperate. Oh, man, when they were trying to turn Emile, that was so painful. Just such a vast consciousness and old being, shoved into a tiny mind and body must have been hell itself. When they got all messy and sick, making us wonder was this the parasite or just them losing it. And how was this different for the last doctor.
But the author really gave us clues the whole time and I had no clue. And I really like where the author ended it, because I needed for Simone and Emile to be happy and free, but I will say that when I was on that last hour or two, I was like okaaaaayyy where are they going with this.
Now some of the horror bits had me gagging a bit, like the birth scene and the following scene where the parasite crawled out of her and all the bits where the parasite would show itself a little. Yuck.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Body horror, Medical content, Blood, Medical trauma, and Pedophilia
There is a graphic child birth scene.