Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

14 reviews

jareadforfilth's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is remarkable, devastating, rage-inducing and informative all in one. We are launched into a version of reality where convicts can opt to compete to the death for their freedom, and the nation is ravenous for it. The dissociation of these convicts (both guilty and innocent) is mind-blowing but feels not far off, honestly. This book casts a harsh light on the depth of people’s cruelty and bloodlust, the corruption of the justice system, and the greed of the 1%.

I love the way Adjei-Brenyah wrote these characters, they all felt so real and I developed individual and deep love for each of them. The way this story is written is also gripping and action-packed, so while being a commentary, it also actively engages the reader in the exact culture that is called into question and makes you take a hard look at yourself, as well. I cannot say enough about this book, it is poignant and ruthless with sparks of humanity in the most unlikely of places and monstrosity in the most abundant.

This book is also incredibly queer with a sapphic relationship very much so at the center, a trans character side character, bisexual rep, and lesbian rep. 

I found the narrators did an exceptional job in not only their performances, but in delineating the footnotes from the plot. It was easy to follow and a masterclass in audiobook narration. Thank you so much to PRHaudio for the review copy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Rape

kshertz's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• 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? No

4.25

What a powerful book. It takes every issue we’re dealing with in modern society and blows it up to monumental proportions. The circle comes back around with chain gangs that fight gladiator style. It’s so smart I’m sure a lot went over my head. But the ills of society are on full display. Prepare to be amazed at the talent ! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Gore, Physical abuse, Body horror, Racism, Violence, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, and Death

samburkhouse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Police brutality, Suicide, Blood, Body horror, and Violence

Moderate: Slavery, Child death, Self harm, Grief, Mental illness, and Racism

Minor: Transphobia, Sexual content, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Rape

dominiq_ec's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

5.0

I mean, this is just one of the best books I've read in a while. Considering another dystopian / apolalyptic favorite of mine, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, its so rooted in human rights issues in the United States, and is just dystopian enough to convince you that we may not see this come to fruition. But what if we do? How will you think? 

I thought that Thurwar and Staxxx both died at the end, but I was wrong and now my heart is broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Suicide, Cancer, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Cursing, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Blood, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Torture, and Self harm

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Hate crime, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident

I mean, this book does force you to take a relatively deep look at the United States penal system, which does include reading about the crimes some of these characters committed, as well as how they are (mis)treated by those that are responsible for their care. At the same time, these incarcerated folks are fighting to the death for entertainment's sake, so there's a lot of gory, violent descriptions. There is mentions of rape, but no graphic details. There is torture, and loss of life. It's a troubling book, so read with caution.

literaryintersections's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“But, as always, the massive violence of the state was “justice”, was “law and order,” and resistance to perpetual violence was an act of terror. It would have been funny if there weren’t so much blood everywhere.”

If I could give this book 100 stars I would. 

I brought Chain Gang All-Stars with me to Scotland not knowing how timely this book would be. Yes this book highlights a dystopian America that feels like it could be right around the corner - a privatized system that pairs corporal punishment with entertainment, pitting incarcerated people against each other in weekly “Death Matches” where only one can survive. This doesn’t feel too far off and Adeji-Brenyah confirms that with key footnotes highlighting the horrific ways our current system strips people of their humanity. But what struck me, especially reading this book during the humanitarian crisis in Palestine was the idea of freedom and if we can ever be free when our governments, systems, policies and practices can take our rights, our families, our lives at a moment.

The quote above really struck me - I actually put the book down and had to take a visible breath because this is happening right now. A state engaging in immense violence in the name of murdered citizens being looked at as justified while any type of resistance or protest is condemned. And we are witnessing this. We are watching it unfold, maybe not as entertainment but it’s everyday, consistent violence, gaslighting, us vs them rhetoric. A complete loss of humanity.

I never want to get to the world that is described in Chain Gang All-Stars. But I fear that in many ways we are already there. And there is so much blood everywhere.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Do yourself a favor and read it. You will learn something. Your ideas of punishment and criminal justice will be challenged or nurtured. And you will feel deep empathy and sadness: for the people in these pages (Loretta and Hamara and Hendrix and Simon and Sunset and Mari and Razor and Bells and…..) and for the people in our world currently being stripped of their humanity every second of every day. And you will be sad for yourself - being complicit in the systems that make this horrible world turn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Death, Gore, and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Slavery

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is tough. A unique, dystopian look at the flaws of criminal justice system. This book is gross and heartbreaking and frustrating and beautiful and powerful beyond words. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Rape

sarahbeydoun's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Grief, Cursing, Sexual content, Murder, Gore, Body horror, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, and Medical content

lanid's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Rape

poppers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Torture, Violence, Death, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Blood, Sexism, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Misogyny, and Colonisation

Minor: Rape and Self harm

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

wow. one of those rare books that echoes way beyond an initial read and begs to be read again. brilliant and painful and hopeful. so much brutality and violence that it overwhelmed and numbed me by the end.

there were many, many layers and themes spinning and converging in this one and I’m not sure they were given the same space to unfold. the introduction of each of them in a dystopian sci-fi world that doesn’t seem very far away or fictional at all was awe-inspiring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Death, and Blood