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the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The metaphors comparing the vampire and abusive partner to imperialism and white supremacy are brilliant and expertly crafted. I was really compelled by how deeply this story reached into that narrative to criticize the imperial system and how you may think you're immune to its harms when you're really another victim. ("She needs me." "She needs someone like you" will live in my head rent-free forever). This metaphor also explored abusive relationships in a similar way with thinking that you will never become the victim of their rage because you're unique, but truly you're just convenient at the moment. Just truly well-done.
With this being said, the gratuitous and graphic sexual violence was almost made to feel "sexy" in a way that felt deeply upsetting.
Additionally, the torture chapter felt pointless in the greater narrative and, to me, mainly served to add a "horror" element without really furthering the story. It was graphic and hard to sit through, but I admit this might be my personal taste.
If you are interested a heavy and dark book in terms of violence and can handle a lot of graphic sexual violence, you might like this story more than I did. I have high hopes for future works of the author's, and I think the author is supremely talented. I just would like to see some care in the way certain kinds of violence are addressed through these stories.
Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
senwithers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
heed the trigger warningstig_'s review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
mitzee'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
On the other hand the levels of abuse are so shocking that I’m not even sure if this is the kind of representation we want.
I did like the surprise ending though. I suppose I would generally recommend this book with major caveats about the explicit sexual content and abuse.
Summary for my own records:
The relationship between Gean Choo and Po Lam is one that is a little easier to take but also feels so straight, it’s a little bit annoying because they have had such few interactions with each other it’s like “how could they like each other so much?” Maybe it’s a shred trauma thing.
Anyway, at the end you get to pick which ending you want. It can be nice or mysteriously awful.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Child death and Gun violence
The type of sexual assault issofipitch'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bbpettry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Colonisation
readsbymoonlight'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, and Classism
readwithbells's review against another edition
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
happily_undignified's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
nittiotvaan's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Cannibalism
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Colonisation