Scan barcode
A review by rigormorphis
Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold
5.0
Reread September 2018: Still love this book, still would never recommend it without EMPHATIC warnings.
*
Original review:
I loved this book to pieces but I almost couldn't finish it at a couple points because it hit a few of my triggers so hard. On top of the usual Vorkosigan Saga warnings (rape, anti-intersex sentiment/dehumanization of intersex people, inconsistent treatment of disabled characters, etc.) it needs warnings for AT THE LEAST: disordered eating (binge eating specifically), fat hate, force-feeding, torture, severe dissociation resulting from torture, CSA, and attempted rape perpetrated by a POV character.
That makes it sound like a brutal read, and it is, especially towards the end. But it's also the story of a severely traumatized young man wandering around collecting a family and building an identity of his own for the first time in his life. Like I said, I really love it.
*
Original review:
I loved this book to pieces but I almost couldn't finish it at a couple points because it hit a few of my triggers so hard. On top of the usual Vorkosigan Saga warnings (rape, anti-intersex sentiment/dehumanization of intersex people, inconsistent treatment of disabled characters, etc.) it needs warnings for AT THE LEAST: disordered eating (binge eating specifically), fat hate, force-feeding, torture, severe dissociation resulting from torture, CSA, and attempted rape perpetrated by a POV character.
That makes it sound like a brutal read, and it is, especially towards the end. But it's also the story of a severely traumatized young man wandering around collecting a family and building an identity of his own for the first time in his life. Like I said, I really love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Torture, Mental illness, and Rape
Moderate: Ableism and Suicidal thoughts