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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some strong writing much of the time, interesting premise and character development (including development of the narrators understanding of other characters). Super graphic and disgusting at times in a way that didn’t feel like cheap shock factor gore
Without spoilers, my only major complaint is that the main character’s reflective narration sometimes got repetitive, especially in the early to middle section of the book. I would’ve liked to see an exploration into other elements of her mind/past or at least different approaches to what themes were included. It sometimes felt like the author didn't trust the reader to understand the character through what she’d already written, and added a very blunt statement to make sure we understood (and sometimes repeating that statement multiple times).
Without spoilers, my only major complaint is that the main character’s reflective narration sometimes got repetitive, especially in the early to middle section of the book. I would’ve liked to see an exploration into other elements of her mind/past or at least different approaches to what themes were included. It sometimes felt like the author didn't trust the reader to understand the character through what she’d already written, and added a very blunt statement to make sure we understood (and sometimes repeating that statement multiple times).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Transphobia, Vomit
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Drug use, Sexual violence, Excrement
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This is the best strangers to lovers book I ever read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Torture
Minor: Transphobia
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've rebelled against the grave that was meant for me. I deserve to die in the mud with dignity like everything else. I deserve to die next to the woman I love.
May Leitz's second novel is a lot more sincere and personal than Fluids was. There are still plenty of similar themes and subjects, but Girl Flesh goes into a less pulpy direction and instead focuses more on character growth and incorporates some self-reflection of the author.
The two main characters are arguably two pieces of Leitz herself and many of their plights and hopes seem to mirror the author's own personality to a degree. The one being a musician and the other an online micro-celebrity writing about horror and/or true crime.
As a content creator herself who has spent hours researching, discussing, and analyzing true crime, gore media, and grimy fiction, May Leitz explores what that might do to a person through the characters in her book. The guilt of participating in making a spectacle of someone else's suffering, as well as how these stories fuel the growing fire to fight injustice. The book also takes on the unique experience of being a secluded person experiencing small-scale fame and all the parasocial relationships that come with it. Subjects like childhood trauma through a problematic household and transphobia are also subjects that pop up. Many of which are probably at least partially inspired by personal experiences and it makes for interesting character building in-between the gruesome violence.
It's also a fresh breeze of air to get a story like this, filled with and inspired by so much despair and suffering, that's spearheaded by two women with a genuinely harmonious relationship, ready to fight. It is satisfying to see them empower each other and demand a better future for themselves while refusing to succumb to victimhood.
This was a very fitting follow-up to Leitz's first book and I'm looking forward to where she's going from here.
The two main characters are arguably two pieces of Leitz herself and many of their plights and hopes seem to mirror the author's own personality to a degree. The one being a musician and the other an online micro-celebrity writing about horror and/or true crime.
As a content creator herself who has spent hours researching, discussing, and analyzing true crime, gore media, and grimy fiction, May Leitz explores what that might do to a person through the characters in her book. The guilt of participating in making a spectacle of someone else's suffering, as well as how these stories fuel the growing fire to fight injustice. The book also takes on the unique experience of being a secluded person experiencing small-scale fame and all the parasocial relationships that come with it. Subjects like childhood trauma through a problematic household and transphobia are also subjects that pop up. Many of which are probably at least partially inspired by personal experiences and it makes for interesting character building in-between the gruesome violence.
It's also a fresh breeze of air to get a story like this, filled with and inspired by so much despair and suffering, that's spearheaded by two women with a genuinely harmonious relationship, ready to fight. It is satisfying to see them empower each other and demand a better future for themselves while refusing to succumb to victimhood.
This was a very fitting follow-up to Leitz's first book and I'm looking forward to where she's going from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Transphobia, Murder
Moderate: Drug use
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Leitz is an incredible author. Her debut shocked me into crying for an hour. Her sophomore novel made me an advocate for her work. She writes a dire and (not but) hopeful lovestory in girl flesh. Leitz creates unwelcome scenes. Each sentence viciously cutting out detail you dont want to be a witness too. It's main pair are loveable struggling assholes to anyone that isn't them. They're in an impossible position and yet they find the ability to love and trust. It's a theme that has been central to Leitz's whole body of work so far.
Girl Flesh is a testament to the horror of true love. Because loving isnt easy. It requires bloody sacrafice.
I can't tell you if it's going to be worth it to you. Girl Flesh is a hard read. One you might find repulsive. I did. I hated reading through many of the chapters. This book stands out from the depths of shit that plague horror fiction. Leitz is an author first, one that happens to be versed in genre fiction. Her second published story went hard. I implore anyone daring to engross themselves into Leitz's outstanding prose. It will leave you haunted for a better, loving world
Girl Flesh is a testament to the horror of true love. Because loving isnt easy. It requires bloody sacrafice.
I can't tell you if it's going to be worth it to you. Girl Flesh is a hard read. One you might find repulsive. I did. I hated reading through many of the chapters. This book stands out from the depths of shit that plague horror fiction. Leitz is an author first, one that happens to be versed in genre fiction. Her second published story went hard. I implore anyone daring to engross themselves into Leitz's outstanding prose. It will leave you haunted for a better, loving world
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
dark
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Absolutely loved it. Thought it was amazing. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Bones and All. Not in story, but just in the balance between a horror and romance/drama story. The way its blended together. It slowly builds up.the back story of the person who's perspective its told from the most. So it does take moments where it breaks away from the present, but it's never too long to feel like it hinders the pacing. Especially since it's the two genres, it is a bit slower anyways. But over all I would say it's one of the better books I've read in awhile.
With that said, it's not perfect. Minor gripes.
For starters, if you're looking for extreme horror, and that's what you're used to... this ain't it. It does have horror moments, but over all I wouldn't say it's much worse than the things I've read in a Stephen King novel. Obviously, still loved it, but I was expecting a bit more.
There's also at least a few points where I did feel like the length could have been shortened down just a bit. Not enough to ruin it, but since there were at least a few times I felt like they could have pretty much taken out a page or two, I don't think I could give it a full 5 stars.
Otherwise those are really the only gripes I can think of. I thought it was a very compelling story, and I am hoping that maybe we can get more stories like these.
With that said, it's not perfect. Minor gripes.
For starters, if you're looking for extreme horror, and that's what you're used to... this ain't it. It does have horror moments, but over all I wouldn't say it's much worse than the things I've read in a Stephen King novel. Obviously, still loved it, but I was expecting a bit more.
There's also at least a few points where I did feel like the length could have been shortened down just a bit. Not enough to ruin it, but since there were at least a few times I felt like they could have pretty much taken out a page or two, I don't think I could give it a full 5 stars.
Otherwise those are really the only gripes I can think of. I thought it was a very compelling story, and I am hoping that maybe we can get more stories like these.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Car accident, Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Medical content, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation