Scan barcode
spellsandmonsters_'s review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this book is amazing! It will probably stick with me forever. It ripped open my heart, and made me feel so emotionally connected to Magpie. The emotions that Magpie felt throughout this story were so real and relatable. It also overall is just a great sci-fi horror story! This book heavily focuses on postpartum depression and suicide so it may not be a book for everyone. But if you can read about those things I recommend this book! Thank you NetGalley, Angry Robot Books, and Gemma Amor for this eARC.
sadee_lilith_bee's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting read and I really liked the premise. I love wild, fantastical stuff with and edge of humanity to it.
Though this book is highly about how we process trauma, I really enjoyed the science fiction aspect to it.
I will say my rating is more like 3.5 stars as it took my a bit to get into and it felt a little slow at times.
It is still a good read though!
Though this book is highly about how we process trauma, I really enjoyed the science fiction aspect to it.
I will say my rating is more like 3.5 stars as it took my a bit to get into and it felt a little slow at times.
It is still a good read though!
thestainlesssteelrat's review against another edition
4.0
Phew. Be prepared cos once you go into this, you'll find it hard to come out again. Come out unchanged that is.
Creeping unknown dread permeates all of this, not lessened as the horror becomes manifest, seriously good writing.
Creeping unknown dread permeates all of this, not lessened as the horror becomes manifest, seriously good writing.
redrumreads's review against another edition
5.0
There are few times in my life when I see mental health portrayed in a way I say “now that is a brilliant, powerful way to give this life”… this book is one of those times.
The intrusive thoughts and the self-destruction was so raw. This was far beyond a sci-fi horror book. I think this should be read by so many people.
The intrusive thoughts and the self-destruction was so raw. This was far beyond a sci-fi horror book. I think this should be read by so many people.
nolitethoughts's review against another edition
5.0
My take on it: The way Gemma Amor pictures postnatal depression helped me to understand it better and to gear up with empathy towards myself when/if the time comes.
I truly enjoyed this book. It made me realize so many things not just about postnatal depression, but how my own mother was behaving during those times too when she suffered from it.
As I was a child I couldn’t really comprehend what was going on with her, because my mind was so simple: Well, I love my mom, why she doesn’t love me back?
I think Full Immersion helped me at this moment in time to understand more the mental process of it than if I would have picked up a nonfiction book about this subject.
A: I would not pick up a nonfiction book about postnatal depression because I’m battling grief and panic attacks at the moment and I don’t want to add more negative thoughts to the depressed beehive in my head.
B: Since it’s fiction I could treat it as fiction, and deal with the true nature of it without getting cold sweat all over me.
I’m fully aware that I was just tricking my brain but it was actually necessary. At some point, it felt like me reading this book is in a way the same journey as Magpie’s in the virtual world.
I loved the characters, and I loved how my relationship changed with the characters as the story progressed. From dislike to acceptance and from like to disappointment. I won’t name the characters because I don’t want to give away anything, but they are very entertaining and kinda give some colour to this understandably dark canvas.
The book also had funny, sarcastic dialogues that I really enjoyed, I think it’s a nice way to give the reader a little break between the emotionally intense scenes. A nice petite cushion on the chair of nails. *wink*
It is an emotional book and deals a lot with the main character’s self-exploring journey. In my opinion, if you know how to read it and most importantly receive it, it helps a ton with your own. I also think it is good practice when you are reading a book that is mainly based on the author’s experience and suffering, that it’s better to be a listener, a wide open window if you will, where she can breeze along as she likes.
Why you might ask.
Because there are certain books that need to be written to be received and be read first and not reviewed as a commercial product that needs to be evaluated.
I would highly recommend this book to people who are suffering from any kind of depression or mental health.
I would make this book a must-read for people who know someone, especially if that someone is their close loved one who suffers from postnatal depression, mental health problems, and so on because it helps tremendously to understand their behavior and know what they might actually need in order to get better.
I would also recommend it to anyone who is planning to have a child in the future. Not to scare or to fear monger but I’m glad that I know about all of this, so if it happens to me when the time comes at least I will know that what I feel and experience is normal, and might be able to prevent me from hating myself so much.
I would like to thank Angry Robot and Gemma Amor for my ebook copy of this gem, also thank you for including a cover for the book as well as it made my life so much easier in terms of taking pictures.
I truly enjoyed this book. It made me realize so many things not just about postnatal depression, but how my own mother was behaving during those times too when she suffered from it.
As I was a child I couldn’t really comprehend what was going on with her, because my mind was so simple: Well, I love my mom, why she doesn’t love me back?
I think Full Immersion helped me at this moment in time to understand more the mental process of it than if I would have picked up a nonfiction book about this subject.
A: I would not pick up a nonfiction book about postnatal depression because I’m battling grief and panic attacks at the moment and I don’t want to add more negative thoughts to the depressed beehive in my head.
B: Since it’s fiction I could treat it as fiction, and deal with the true nature of it without getting cold sweat all over me.
I’m fully aware that I was just tricking my brain but it was actually necessary. At some point, it felt like me reading this book is in a way the same journey as Magpie’s in the virtual world.
I loved the characters, and I loved how my relationship changed with the characters as the story progressed. From dislike to acceptance and from like to disappointment. I won’t name the characters because I don’t want to give away anything, but they are very entertaining and kinda give some colour to this understandably dark canvas.
The book also had funny, sarcastic dialogues that I really enjoyed, I think it’s a nice way to give the reader a little break between the emotionally intense scenes. A nice petite cushion on the chair of nails. *wink*
It is an emotional book and deals a lot with the main character’s self-exploring journey. In my opinion, if you know how to read it and most importantly receive it, it helps a ton with your own. I also think it is good practice when you are reading a book that is mainly based on the author’s experience and suffering, that it’s better to be a listener, a wide open window if you will, where she can breeze along as she likes.
Why you might ask.
Because there are certain books that need to be written to be received and be read first and not reviewed as a commercial product that needs to be evaluated.
I would highly recommend this book to people who are suffering from any kind of depression or mental health.
I would make this book a must-read for people who know someone, especially if that someone is their close loved one who suffers from postnatal depression, mental health problems, and so on because it helps tremendously to understand their behavior and know what they might actually need in order to get better.
I would also recommend it to anyone who is planning to have a child in the future. Not to scare or to fear monger but I’m glad that I know about all of this, so if it happens to me when the time comes at least I will know that what I feel and experience is normal, and might be able to prevent me from hating myself so much.
I would like to thank Angry Robot and Gemma Amor for my ebook copy of this gem, also thank you for including a cover for the book as well as it made my life so much easier in terms of taking pictures.
beytwice's review
4.0
A decent sci-fi horror that was quick and easy to get through and (for the most part) a hit! I enjoyed the setting and premise and thought the themes of postpartum depression and motherhood were interesting to read without coming across preachy. The horror scenes were few and far between but effective when they arrived, albeit about two thirds in I was a little tired of the repetitive brown gunk seeping everywhere. Also a little unimpressed with the ethical side of a few plot points that I won’t spoil later in the book, but let’s just say I didn’t particularly enjoy how Magpie’s ‘friend’ was ultimately portrayed. Overall one hell of a ride though and I just know some people will really connect with this.
tarainez's review
3.0
First off, I’ve got to give props to the author for putting her pain on display for the world to see. It takes a lot of courage to do that. I don’t think this book was written for anyone else but herself, so my opinion shouldn’t matter really.
With that being said, I always feel a little guilty when I don’t fully resonate with an extremely personal piece of work. I thought the mental health aspects were done well, and the concepts here were promising. However, something just didn’t quite work for me. Maybe it’s that there were a lot of moving parts, but there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of action for majority of the story. It felt a little convoluted at times as well. By the time I thought things were going to start ramping up on the horror side, it would go back to other explored topics, so the horror didn’t grab me for this reason (definitely more on the psychological side of things overall). We had some glimpses of body horror, but by the time we get there, it almost felt like too little, too late, and it was kind of hard to visualize what exactly was happening. I also didn’t know how much Magpie was controlling things on her end. Mental health is truly scary, and I like the thought of physical manifestations, but I’m not sure I quite loved the overall execution. Feels real bad about not enjoying this one more tbh lol
With that being said, I always feel a little guilty when I don’t fully resonate with an extremely personal piece of work. I thought the mental health aspects were done well, and the concepts here were promising. However, something just didn’t quite work for me. Maybe it’s that there were a lot of moving parts, but there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of action for majority of the story. It felt a little convoluted at times as well. By the time I thought things were going to start ramping up on the horror side, it would go back to other explored topics, so the horror didn’t grab me for this reason (definitely more on the psychological side of things overall). We had some glimpses of body horror, but by the time we get there, it almost felt like too little, too late, and it was kind of hard to visualize what exactly was happening. I also didn’t know how much Magpie was controlling things on her end. Mental health is truly scary, and I like the thought of physical manifestations, but I’m not sure I quite loved the overall execution. Feels real bad about not enjoying this one more tbh lol
aaronlindsey's review
3.0
I love Gemma Amor. Cruel Works of Nature is one of my all-time favorite horror collections.
But this one just didn't do much for me. It reads more like Sci-Fi Fantasy than Horror. Maybe that's what my problem with it is.
It was entertaining and kept my interest, it just wasn't scary. I guess you can say it got about as scary as an average Dr. Who episode.
But this one just didn't do much for me. It reads more like Sci-Fi Fantasy than Horror. Maybe that's what my problem with it is.
It was entertaining and kept my interest, it just wasn't scary. I guess you can say it got about as scary as an average Dr. Who episode.
bobmetal's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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