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waggish_nymph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Outing
_pandachi'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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Cannibalism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Incest
rikathestrange's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
erica_reads_things'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
Minor: Incest and Stalking
katelynalice'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Incest and Stalking
agravereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
I loved it. Not sure what that means for me.
It was character-driven in a way I absolutely cannot resist. Four points of view from four (arguably three) terribly flawed and deranged men in their own ways, but with such love amd obsession interwoven that I felt... something? Toward them. Additionally, the AIDS commentary, specifically how the disease and the tragedy of the people who contracted HIV were treated by society was not what I was expecting from this book.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
hfrancesh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Stalking
Minor: Cancer
niccolowilliam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, and Outing
cnossek's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
saintersatz'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
4.25
This book left me feeling completely empty, but I enjoyed the wild ride all the same.
This book was a page-turner. Somewhat predictable moments in plot, but not in a way that spoiled the fun. Sometimes very funny, often very emotional, and almost always very disturbing.
I have a hard time recommending this book, not only for the deeply transgressive themes and scenes, but also because it feels a bit like empty horror. I didn't have much of a takeaway and I felt almost numb by the ending-- but perhaps there's some cruel genius in that?
Check the trigger warnings and read if it seems up your alley. Have fun!
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
This books takes place during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 80s/90s. Some may find the harsh discussion about this disease and the politics surrounding it difficult. This book contains several non-consensual sexual scenes between queer men, including murder, rape, cannibalism, and necrophilia. Very disturbing and not for the faint of heart.