Scan barcode
akizato's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This felt like a first draft that could do with some expansion to explore the more interesting parts.
I will praise the translation though, which is part of the reason it even gets 2 stars. Representing the exhaustion and alien-ness with the font getting all weird was really well done, it's a really good translation!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Excrement and Sexual harassment
mar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Hate crime, and Excrement
amme'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Where the book lost me was the glaring fatphobia from the alien. It felt incredibly disjointed coming from the same alien that has been spouting critiques on our societal structures for the entire book.
If you can't do gore, skip this one.
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Ableism and Cannibalism
rosie_valadez's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia, Transphobia, and Blood
Minor: Cannibalism
messymimms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was an oddly fun and grotesque book, which I felt peaked pretty early on.
The main character goes on a lot of tangents, some of which are funny, poignant or philosophical. Many just didn’t hit for me, and as a result it ended feeling a bit disjointed.
The concept of an alien struggling with earth gravity and relying on the bodies of strangers to survive was evocative, and the parallels with themes of queer and trans belonging felt obvious and important. I only wish there had been more about disability.
Something that took me aback was a fat woman being described as a rhinoceros, and then an elephant. For a creature who critically analyses Earth beauty standards, that seemed a strange choice. The portrayal was sloppy; fatphobic and boring. I’m not sure a 340kg alien covered in hair (nor their author) is one to judge.
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
callme_tippy's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
The scene setting, the characterization, the stylistic choices in visuals and writing were all spot on.
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
melliedm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What's all this nonsense, you say? Just think of it as the ramblings of a life-form pretending to be human. It won't be that important to you, dear reader.
A strange, intensely evocative novel about the sensation of being alien to the society you live in, discussing concepts like masking, isolation, anxiety, and desire in a package equally relatable and…well, alien.
Maybe it’s just the autistic, chronically ill, queer in me—but yeah. This one hit home.
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, Hate crime, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Excrement, and Dysphoria
chase0w0'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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Transphobia, and Blood
signeskov'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming and Sexual harassment
readingsofaslinky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia