Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison

52 reviews

madeinlavanda's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Cannibalism

perpetuallygreads's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Abortion, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

hannah_allen's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I believe there are two ways to write a disturbing book. The first way is to develop the characters, their personalities, their backgrounds, etc to give the reader full insight into why each character is the way they are; the story calls for dark scenes because the characters have been intentionally created to be dark people. The second way is to say to yourself, “What are the most disgusting/vile/disturbing things people can do? I want to write those things and have my characters do them.”

Unfortunately, this author chose the latter of these options when writing Dead Inside.

The reader receives limited information about the two main characters and their backgrounds. There isn’t a full-fledged story told- we go from one horrific and gruesome situation to the next, until the book eventually ends. And in my opinion, if an author is going to commit to the dark and disturbing parts of the human psyche, then the author has a responsibility to the reader to write a story, not a series of disturbing happenings loosely woven together with necrophilia and cannibalism.

Aside from the author’s descriptions of the books’ settings, the prose is underwhelming, and the dialogue feels forced. The twist is predictable, but is set up very well throughout the book. The author gives the reader a lovely, ironic dichotomy of the two characters’ “final forms” in the last pages that gives some relief from their grotesque tension. I also enjoyed the brief periods of time I found myself “rooting for” the main character; these were also welcomed reprieves from the book’s (at times) unnecessary graphicness. 

With all that being said, I *am* sitting here thinking and talking about this book, and this could very well be one of the author’s goals. In that sense, he did what he set out to do. I just think this book could have been written with a clearer point of view. Maybe I’ve interpreted this in a way it’s not meant to be interpreted, but I will not be re-reading this book to parcel that out. 

If you want a much darker, shorter, and more disturbing book with the same vibes as Verity by Colleen Hoover, this *might* be a book worth your time. If you absolutely love body-horror movies, this might be a book worth your time. If you’re looking for something purposefully shocking, this also might be a book worth your time. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS (graphic descriptions): necrophilia, cannibalism, sexual assault, rape, abortion, infant death.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape and Murder

Graphic descriptions of necrophilia are included 2-3 times throughout this book.

anxiouslyreading33's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

No just no up until page 100 I thought this book isnt that bad then page 100 happens and I just cant unless you are okay with necrophilia including that of a dead fetus stay far far away I'm physically ill

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

kzweig13's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.25

The most disgusting book I have ever read. Would not recommend ever.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

mossroot's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I forced myself to finish this book. Every minute was painful and I almost genuinely (scouts honor) vomited on two occasions. Wanted to see if this type of horror was for me and I grossly underestimated how vile it would actually be. This story does not use its vile actions to further the plot, tell any meaningful story, create any suspense, or make any type of commentary. Truly regret reading this book. It had well written descriptions, don't get me wrong, with a story that was aware of how disgusting it was, but it was not something I enjoyed at all. I am a horror and thriller fan, but this is anything but. This is splatterpunk to the extreme. Reader beware. 

I feel incapable of currently giving this book any type of star rating, due to the how absolutely disgusting and vile the subject matter is.

No part of me feels that I can say this book deserves any stars. Fucking a dead baby is just something that I cannot get behind. Not even mentioned off hand, this sex act is VISCERALLY explained. There is no true justice or anything for this MC and it's very bleak and disgusting.

 

Dead Inside took me a little over two hours to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

phillyd's review against another edition

It is overly fucked up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

chrissypops's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Even though I enjoyed the dark humour in this book, it goes in some very dark directions. I went into this book pretty blind as I’ve heard both good and negative stuff. Think my facial expressions went from LOL to disgust within 2 seconds every minute !  I’m so glad I’ve been listening to this on headphones! Definitely not one to listen to on loud speaker unless you are on your own 🎧 
Be aware of the triggers in this book before you read including Necrophilia which isn’t listed n content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

jully_bean's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy

grimoireofsabotage's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, and Car accident