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musicalpopcorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
This book was so strange, but I was so into it!! The first story opens with quite a concept so the reader is prepared for everything that comes after, but I will say that story would also probably turn off a lot of readers…it was something else.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
maria_sanb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
biscuitgale'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? It's complicated
4.25
My favorite story was Ruler of Winds and Sands. It's also the most palatable story out of the book with the fewest horror elements. There are so many themes and complexities in these shorts that I'd like to give them all a re-read at some point.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Incest and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and War
vixenreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, Vomit, and Stalking
Be aware that there is characters slowly dying, hunger, starvation, c-sections, blood clots, mob violence, financial struggles, mentions of Nazism, and destruction of cities and families.v_verdesoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, and Pregnancy
perfectcupoftea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Genocide, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
sauvageloup'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pros:
- they're definitely gripping, and the writing style is sparse but clear and evocative, with the descriptions being vivid.
- the stories felt self contained and satisfying overall, even as many ended in tragedy.
- the last book of short stories I read, i struggled to jump from one story to another, maybe because they were so different and by different people. this one wasnt like that at all, and i had no problem reading straight through, pretty much.
- i liked the variety in length and themes of the stories, from birth horror, to supernatural, to fantasy fairy tale and modern criticisms on feminism and capitalism. i think i mainly read very on the surface and didnt look hard at metaphors and such, a reread might help me see this more.
- I liked the sheer imagination though and how Chung makes you care for characters who often arent even given a name.
cons:
- the first two stories especially, but a lot of them overall, were pretty horrible and graphic. they did their job in making you feel things! but it reminded me too much of just horrible nightmares and intrusive thoughts and I wouldnt read those two again.
- I also felt there was generally a lack of hope in the stories, but that's personal taste I guess.
overall, well written and gripping but too horror for me and dont think I'll seek out more of her work, but I might reread this in time.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
scifi_rat's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
mermaidsherbet'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
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and War
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Ableism, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Menstruation ("The Head," "The Embodiment").