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A review by js_reading_journal
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I nearly DNF’d this book, but it was for a book club, it had been MY pick for the book club, and I just kept reminding myself that it was less than 300 pages.
The writing felt blah and heavy handed. I couldn’t have told you which character of the main characters was which for the first half of the book. The plot felt half assed and like the ‘TERFs are bad message’ was the only thing important to the author.
On the TERF commentary: why the hell would terfs be okay with then making their own castrated non-men. Like towards the middle to end of the book they are like ‘hey by the way you can choose to not be a man and join us as our low level grunts if you want. You still won’t be a women but that’s fine’ when they are simultaneously murdering trans people for being trans?? Did not understand that whole plot point. Also felt like the TERF Ramona was the only one with an actual character arc, and I’m sorry but you can’t make me like a TERF so idk why you even would have tried.
THEN the trans commentary felt just plain ol transphobic. Like all the trans characters personalities and modulations revolved around sex and being able to pass. And that’s just not what life is for all trans people. Passing isn’t the end all be all for a lot of trans people. THEN the heavy implications that estrogen is the ONLY thing keeping trans women from being rapid horrendous men??? Are you kidding me? I get that this is a end of the world apocalypse premise but as ‘social commentary’ terrible. This felt like a ‘guide to rational your transphobia’
THEN we have the overt fat phobia. That all the characters that are described as fat are also described as disgusting and hating themselves. Literally what the f*ck.
And to top it all of there’s just a dash of racism. The oh I didn’t realize this POC could be more than a dormouse. And - im not going back in to find it - but at one point the Screw people were like ‘well we gave you the columbian’ - I don’t remember if this was in reference to the Dr needing more help or someone to experiment on. It was unclear but bad regardless.
Also — Ramona referred to Feather as being 16 at one point in the book and like that’s pedophilia. Ramona is described as being in her 20s.
Lastly, none of the characters felt unrelatable. The ‘morally grey-ness’ of characters was over shadowed by the 1 dimensional writing and lack of character background or motivation (besides just living to the next day).
This premise could have really been amazing. But alas.
If you want a horror apocalypse book with trans rep read Hell Followed With Us.
The writing felt blah and heavy handed. I couldn’t have told you which character of the main characters was which for the first half of the book. The plot felt half assed and like the ‘TERFs are bad message’ was the only thing important to the author.
On the TERF commentary: why the hell would terfs be okay with then making their own castrated non-men. Like towards the middle to end of the book they are like ‘hey by the way you can choose to not be a man and join us as our low level grunts if you want. You still won’t be a women but that’s fine’ when they are simultaneously murdering trans people for being trans?? Did not understand that whole plot point. Also felt like the TERF Ramona was the only one with an actual character arc, and I’m sorry but you can’t make me like a TERF so idk why you even would have tried.
THEN the trans commentary felt just plain ol transphobic. Like all the trans characters personalities and modulations revolved around sex and being able to pass. And that’s just not what life is for all trans people. Passing isn’t the end all be all for a lot of trans people. THEN the heavy implications that estrogen is the ONLY thing keeping trans women from being rapid horrendous men??? Are you kidding me? I get that this is a end of the world apocalypse premise but as ‘social commentary’ terrible. This felt like a ‘guide to rational your transphobia’
THEN we have the overt fat phobia. That all the characters that are described as fat are also described as disgusting and hating themselves. Literally what the f*ck.
And to top it all of there’s just a dash of racism. The oh I didn’t realize this POC could be more than a dormouse. And - im not going back in to find it - but at one point the Screw people were like ‘well we gave you the columbian’ - I don’t remember if this was in reference to the Dr needing more help or someone to experiment on. It was unclear but bad regardless.
Also — Ramona referred to Feather as being 16 at one point in the book and like that’s pedophilia. Ramona is described as being in her 20s.
Lastly, none of the characters felt unrelatable. The ‘morally grey-ness’ of characters was over shadowed by the 1 dimensional writing and lack of character background or motivation (besides just living to the next day).
This premise could have really been amazing. But alas.
If you want a horror apocalypse book with trans rep read Hell Followed With Us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Gore, Racism, Rape, and Transphobia