Reviews

Viscera by Gabriel Squailia

erinlcrane's review

4.0

4.5 stars?? This was bananas. What an imaginative author. I was like, am I really reading this book and taking a living, talking doll seriously?? Loved the creativity of this story and our two lead characters. This was more of a personal journey for each of them within a fantasy setting. The setting is actually difficult to get a handle on. Whatever war is going on is completely beside the point. Unlike most fantasy stories, the characters we follow are not the decision makers of this war, not involved in this war, not the ones who will end this war. I think sometimes a vagueness to a fantasy setting works really well because if you try to explain too much it can actually start to make less sense.

I think the plot of this book was a bit unfocused. Everything comes to a satisfying conclusion for me, but the way there felt random. Having said that, it didn’t bother me much??

b_witchment's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

astralpastures's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

heres_johnny's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• 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

3.0

It's a very unique book. Definitely not for everyone. 

TW gore, trans violence

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Blood, and War

ominousspectre's review

3.0

This was...a strange one. Not in that the story was too strange, as I love strange stories. It's that it had so much of what I should have really enjoyed in it, but I just didn't.

I saw another review that summed it up well, that there was no room to breathe. It's too short and too fast, so reveals don't feel earned, and there's too many concepts floating about that feel little explored. It's a VERY interesting world, and I wanted more of it.

I also get very *ick* about fantasy stories where trans characters are just suffering. I get that it's a dystopia, but it's high fantasy. Must we suffer persecution in every universe? I find no catharsis in it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Deadnaming and Transphobia

rhensie's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

My main problem with this book is that it just didn't have enough room to breathe. There is so much potential here - just from the taste of the world that we got, I can tell that this would be a fascinating universe, but the book doesn't even hit 300 pages, and there's not enough room to explore all of it. Big reveals are done too quickly and certain threads really get away from you when they are given so little time. If this had been a trilogy and had been given the room it needed to breathe I think this could easily have been a 5 star read for me, which is a frustrating feeling.

dani_k's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.5

alpha_hydra's review

5.0

A very unique and we'll written book! I kept wishing there was more: more history of the universe as well as more backstory for the main characters, but the plot moved along at a pretty good clip and it was really only after finishing the book in a daze that I wanted so much more. Squailia has a really concise writing style, but it never makes things feel clinical or heartless. Also, this book is full of queer characters!! I have found it hard to find fantasy novels with queer characters that aren't reduced to cheap stereotypes, and here he's managed to write non-binary and trans folks with so much heart, despite the gruesome universe they inhabit. If you're squeamish maybe reconsider this book (it's not called Viscera for nothing, after all) but besides that I would definitely consider picking this up!!

abbymawhinney's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

skybalon's review

4.0

There is no hand-holding in this novel. The author throws you right into the story and the reader is challenged to hold on for the ride. There is a lot of gore in this book, but hey it's called Viscera so don't think you haven't been warned. Worth the read.