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elwirax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
These short stories highlighted many real life horrors in the world such as pedophilia, child trafficking and rape, suicide and self harm. While I tend to enjoy sociopolitical horror, the way certain themes were explored felt less like thoughtful commentary and more like shock value.
The stories were packed with misogyny and 'kids who come back' used problematic transphobic language. I suppose that this was used as a tool to present bias and prejudice as a horror of the world and highlighted the idea that the narrator's are just as 'monstrous' as the events happening. I am not insinuating that these are the author's beliefs, merely that it can be harmful to readers.
Overall, not a very good literary horror collection, either in terms of plot or writing.
Angelita Unearthed: 2 stars
Our Lady of the Quarry:1 star
The Cart: 1 star
The Well: 2.5 stars
Rambla Triste: 2 stars
The Lookout: 2.5 stars
Where are you , dear heart: 1 star
Meat: 2 stars
No birthdays or baptisms: 1 star
Kids who come back: 0.5 star
The dangers of smoking in bed: 1 star
Back when we talked to the dead: 3 stars
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, and Excrement
Minor: Sexual content, Transphobia, and Trafficking
sadlytriste's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Murder
rowanelisa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
libraryoflanelle's review against another edition
2.0
TW: Inappropriate slavery reference
“I claimed mental exhaustion, and they understood; "You've been working like a s***e," they told me.” Pg 8
TW: Fatphobia
“Maybe if he saw how ugly her body was she had some really tubby legs, which she claimed were because she'd played hockey when she was little, but half of us had played hockey too, and none of us had those big ham hocks. Plus she had a flat ass and broad hips, which was why jeans never fit her well. If he saw those defects (plus the black hairs she never really got rid of maybe she couldn't pull them out down to the root, she was really dark), maybe Diego would stop liking Silvia and finally pay attention to us.” Pg 16
“A girl was walking ahead of her, somewhat unsta ble, with jeans too low and tight on her hips so her flaccid belly spilled out from under her short shirt a roll of chalky, stretch-marked flesh that would have been easy to hide with a long, baggy shirt, but the girl clearly wasn't worried about aesthetics.” Pg 57
TW: Transphobia
“but carefully, because she didn't want any cops to see her, and she didn't want to ask the tr*****s for money, because they beat up girls like her.” Pg 132
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Transphobia, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Kidnapping
goldbs'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
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
greenground808s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence
scarredman'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? It's complicated
Graphic: Gun violence and Suicide
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
lizetteratura'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
3.5
1. Our Lady of the Quarry
2. Meat
3. Back When We Talked to the Dead
4. The Cart
5. The Lookout
6. No Birthdays or Baptisms
7. Rambla Triste
8. Where Are You, Dear Heart?
9. Angelita Unearthed
10. The Well
11. Kids Who Come Back
12. The Dangers of Smoking in Bed
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicide, and Trafficking
Minor: Rape, Transphobia, and Kidnapping
wintermoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Moderate: Death, Rape, Vomit, and Murder
Minor: Cannibalism
stindex's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail