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killmoore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
There were a few moments that could have been pure horror, but Lena's need to be detached and emotionally void dampened the effect, which was disappointing.
I'd recommend as a conversation starter for a book club, or someone looking for a truly interesting concept written as a "stuff happens" sandwich. It begins, stuff happens, then it ends.
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Gore, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Cultural appropriation
spineofthesaurus's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Slavery, Terminal illness, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Police brutality, Car accident, and Pregnancy
jkpiowa's review
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Gun violence, Racism, Grief, and Gaslighting
tigger89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This novel's strongest point were the characters, both Lena and her friends and family. I cared and worried about her, as I was watching her make mistakes that she knew were mistakes, yet felt desperate enough to pursue anyway. It was a disturbingly plausible situation, one that plays out — albeit with uncaring capitalism in place of conspiracy — all the time in this country. The experimental sections(for lack of a better term, if you know you know) were also very well-written, trippy and mind-bending but at the same time easily able to be followed. This story definitely put the psychological in the thriller, leaving you doubting every scene after a point.
If you're looking for an ending with answers, I'll be upfront with you: you're not gonna find any here. I personally thought it was a good ending, but it pretty much drops a bombshell on you and then leaves you hanging to form your own theory about what exactly happened. So, I recognize that's not everyone's cup of tea. After reflecting on it for a day or so, though, I found it to be appropriately horrific.
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
grvhppr's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Racism, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Slavery
____emily____'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
seullywillikers's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
This is an ambitious story that wonders about the lengths that the poor and oppressed will go through to protect and save their families, while exploring the history of government experimentation on Black and Indigenous people.
It would be hard to recommend this to someone. Not everyone will like it, enjoy it, or understand it. I'm not sure that I understand it, really. People who don't enjoy it still may find it profound. I'm glad that I've read it.
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Classism
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Addiction, Vomit, and Grief
zombiezami's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Sexism, Torture, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
hngisreading's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma