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mallory_minerva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I know this book is disliked, and I find the criticisms understandable. I do not dispute the realism issues; people don't really email like that. The texting to me seemed fine on the local level however. The progression of the relationship, as well as the relationship with the Tapeworm, seemed most unrealistic, but in some ways the psychological nuance of it was very interesting. I have mixed feelings on that front. I also am unsure about the claim of the author fetishizing lesbians. I didn't pick up on it much myself but I can see why others do.
I honestly found it mostly fun. I read it in one sitting which is rare for me. The characters are good and distinct, and the scenes conveyed through texts and emails are really vivid. I also liked Agnes's tendency to tell anecdotes; a lot of the literary merit is in those moments and I actually do buy that someone would just infodump anecdotes to make a point. I think the online take on an epistolary novel was well done all things considered; this is an epistolary novel and it will read like letters, not emails, and that's fine.
The horror is... The body horror is better than the psychological horror. I did not enjoy the BDSM aspects, and the animal cruelty really felt out of place for both characters and plot-necessitated. The Findom was underexplored but maybe that's a good thing. Zoe places enough emphasis on consent and caution that I didn't really perceive much manipulation. I didn't pick up on it until she self-discloses out of guilt and concern. There's moments where I feel things are getting worse and Agnes is blundering into a bad situation though, which is good psychological horror. The body horror is well-done.
I wanted to read trash after Foucault broke me, and I certainly got it. I get the low average but this book came to me at the right time I guess.
PS: this is the most content warnings I've ever added for a review. I guess I don't do horror much.
Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Child death, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Gore, Body horror, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Suicide
shelbymarie314's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Violence, Child death, and Gore
gabrielleclarke05's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Infertility, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Pregnancy, Gore, Death, Excrement, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
viciousfrockery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Gore, Body horror, Body shaming, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Death
judah_g's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Gore, and Body horror
Minor: Homophobia
angstyweeaboo's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Self harm
Minor: Suicide
from_paradise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Body horror
mountainfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Gore, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kathann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Excrement, Gore, and Mental illness
insaneeli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore and Homophobia
Moderate: Body horror