Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

98 reviews

hippievamp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism

paintpaw's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed the writing style, it felt fresh and interesting but did take me a bit of getting used to.  I also really enjoyed the characters, even the minor characters were fun and distinctive. I loved the ALC kids, especially Erin and Savador. I felt really seen by Benji's characterisation. I've never read about a trans guy in published fiction and man did this hit, I sometimes struggle to identify with trans characters with me being non-op and other stuff but Benji spoke to me. I can't even fully explain.

 The descriptions are visceral and have fascinating imagery. The chapter lengths felt good and punchy, although I have to say I found the alt POV chapters a little redundant and actually spoiling the twists that would have come more naturally and had bigger impact if we had stayed in Benji's POV.  The ending felt a little rushed too but otherwise fine, those are the only reasons it's not a 5. 

Also I'm absolutely dying to make some beaded lizards now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child death, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and War

Minor: Confinement and Alcohol

marloesisalive's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.5

The book is quite heavy on body gore. I do still have a lot of questions, like

why did Benji survive and how did Seraph form his body

I don’t find it realistic that everyone was quite mentally stable despite the flood happening in 2015. Benji’s dialogue also did not always fit, I would have like to see some personal growth.

He talked a lot about his feelings about bodydismorphia but I didn’t feel his emotions. When he changed into Seraph he mentioned feeling a different bodydismorphia. I did not feel it, the author should have showed and not told us about it instead. I wanted his dialogue to reflect more that he finally could be open and out trans man.

It was the first horror book I read and it was enjoyable. The antagonist is a christian cult so that is something yoy have to consider before picking up the book. There is quite some religious criticism

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Transphobia, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Cannibalism, and Classism

nervcorp's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

im fucking crying. im fucking crying. 
not over the plot. over the thinks theis fucking book says about living. kill me now!!! i am so insane!!! i put this book down atleast twice because it was so REAL!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

this one is CRAZY. please please please read at your own risk ...

sirashyashington's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Loved this book, and it's by one of my all time favorite authors, but the ending definitely let me down. I feel like there definitely could have been a better, more cohesive ending- or even a second book. It was a bit confusing towards the end, but other than that, I really loved this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Dysphoria, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ruthlessreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Queer, trans Appalachian teen turning into a monster to defeat the religious trauma he was raised with? Absolutely yes, in every way <3 The pacing was a little uneven and some of the gory parts were quite literally nauseating but that's the only things that altered my rating. Overall, an incredible debut!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Dysphoria

mogojojo1013's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this. The body horror was so visceral (definitely make sure you check the content warnings before reading! LOTS of gross in here). All of the grotesque body horror moments that Benji experiences are SO very relatable as someome who is nonbinary and has experienced dysphoria. Really knocked it out of the park, for me. I loved the world building, and I love how flawed Benji is as a character, and he really feels and reads like a teenager. I also loved the tender moments of found family and friendship that help break up the scenes of intense violence and gore, it was a breath of fresh air and was comforting. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content

pagesofplatypus's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This is definitely a gripping dystopian and body/religious horror book. Taking place in an alternatw future in which a mysterious disease known as the Flood has ravaged hunanity, making their organs and flesh degrade and mutate in gruesome manners, Benji is on the run and hiding the fact that he is a Seraph.

The world building is strong and the characters are all believable for kids who have had to grow up to quickly. I like how doverse and inclusive the cast is with one character showing how to seamlessly use neo-pronouns.

The horror elements are also very well done and stomach churning as Benji's body begins falling apart. So if you are squeamish, probably skip this one. I have to admit some scenes were pushing the limit of grossness for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing

sample_text's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Dysphoria

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Medical content