aryelee's review against another edition
- 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
My absolute favorite aspect of this novel is how empathy is Benji's greatest strength. He does his best to connect to the teenagers in the ALC who take him in, he understands the pain of the monsters created by the Flood, he even empathizes with
Spoiler
Theo after his betrayal and attack, to the point that even I couldn't be mad at Theo when the rest of the Church had done so much worse, even to him.This is a very dark world and dark narrative. I can see why this isn't everyone's cup of tea. But I flew through these pages, loved the writing style, and how people are the focus and the forces of the world/narrative. I'm fine without having a detailed explanation on everything! I don't need to know absolutely everything about the Seraph and how it's a monster, a separate being, inside Benji changing him while also being a metaphor for being trans while growing up in an environment that portrays transness as evil or monstrous. This is a very contained world; it's the remains of one town. There is a world still out there past the bridge, but we never cross it. Everything happens in one place, and we know all we need to know about it. Not once did I feel overwhelmed by the author trying to shove as much worldbuilding information on the page as possible. No, this took all the time it needed, kept a strong focus on Benji and Nick, and left off at a hopeful note.
Hell certainly did follow with us, but there's a life past hell worth living. Benji has made his way there despite everything. I hope the readers who need this book get there too.
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Genocide, Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Child death, Self harm, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lucy11110's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Homophobia, and Medical content
Minor: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders
vixenreader's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Transphobia, Death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Violence, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Sexual content, Child death, Classism, Bullying, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Pedophilia, War, Pregnancy, and Racism
The scenes of the protagonists barging up their organs is creative and grotesque, and the dogma of the cult could be triggering for anyone who has experienced abuse from a zealous community. Be warned that there is also maternal abuse, critique of religion being used for violence and genocide, an almost forced marriage, biological experimentation on unwilling victims, and bodily mutation.grey's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child death, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, and Sexual content
Minor: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders
satsumaorange's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
It was a good read to get me out of my comfort zone, but ultimately, not the perfect book for me. Enjoyed it though!
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Genocide, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Gun violence, War, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Body shaming, and Gore
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Classism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Deadnaming
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Outing, and Gaslighting
This book is FULL OF GORE. And violence. And death. There's a whole opening note from the author warning about potential triggers. Reader beware. Dead dove do not eat.aehmyers's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Child abuse, Classism, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Mass/school shootings, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Death, Genocide, Gore, Murder, and War
gadeusta's review against another edition
- 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: Physical abuse, Classism, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Transphobia, War, Blood, Body horror, Death, Dysphoria, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Religious bigotry
blairextraordinaire's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Body horror, Blood, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Homophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Classism, and Dysphoria
bencaroline's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Body horror, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, War, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Genocide, and Deadnaming
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Suicide, Confinement, Bullying, Addiction, Sexual content, Classism, and Domestic abuse
ashs_ephemera's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Vomit, Gun violence, Murder, Body horror, Transphobia, Violence, Gaslighting, War, Religious bigotry, Gore, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Dysphoria, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Classism, Homophobia, and Genocide