Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Desconexión by Neal Shusterman

57 reviews

queencleo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This novel contains the single most horrifying sequence I have read in a decade. All of the stars are for that scene alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

bowlingforboots's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual harassment

adastrame's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

WHAT THE FUCK is what I've been thinking the entire time I was reading this book. This world is extremely bizarre and weird. I would even consider it body horror. Even though the book is not very graphic about it, just the thought of what's happening is making me incredibly uncomfortable.

It was a very captivating read, but also a very uncomfortable one. 

One of my issues with the setting is that I find it really hard to believe that parents would willingly have their teenage kids sent off to be harvested. But then again, in such an overpopulated world, I guess people are more inclined to do such horrible things.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror

slowreader9999's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Extremely enjoyable read! The whole concept of the book is extremely unique and, though I will admit there are a couple flaws with the worldbuilding, it was smoothly written enough not to interfere with the plot itself. Speaking of the writing, it is very entertainingly and skillfully written. I am in love with Neal Shusterman's writing style and the way he portrays characters' inner thoughts.

Many storylines in this book come full-circle,

which makes for a very emotional and satisfying ending. I wish I could read this book again for the first time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Abortion, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

nafinboof95's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I loved EVERYTHING about this book!
⚠️ Trigger warning! ⚠️ 
If you have issues with abortion or parents giving up unwanted children, this book might not be for you.
I started my adventures with Neal Shusterman with the Scythe series. It’s fun to imagine this in the same universe, way way earlier on in the timeline, one of humanity’s many “problematic times” before they put the Thunderhead in charge.
Pacing in this book was great. Stakes felt so high the whole time, and you had no idea how they could get higher until they did, and every time blew my mind. Pretty literally toward the end there. 😉
10/10.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse and Abortion

Children younger than 18 can be retroactively aborted, their bodies being separated into pieces that others need to live happy lives, arguably meaning the original child never dying, just living in a “divided state.” Makes you think about what “life” really is.

dododenise's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This book is sadly as relevant as before: 17 years later and the pro choice vs pro life debate is as alive as ever. 

Unwinding is a twisted way to find the solution to this problem, that isn’t really a solution at all. While the science does not seem all that waterproof to me, that does not take away from the concept and message it sends. 

The characters are very classic Neal Shusterman I have to say. The roles these characters play reminded me a lot of arc of the scythe. 

I think this book truly plays beautifully what it means to be alive, what death is, and where that leads people. I cannot properly express everything this book tries to tell you, but I can say for certain that it worked for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Medical content, and Abortion

emily_am's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

beware of chaper 61 and the bathroom scene.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

I strongly advise to NOT read this book if you feel strongly like the content warnings will disturb you. If the disturbing feeling is what you're looking for, this is an amazing, eye opening book.

cosmicwillow's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

delightfully dark and horrifying. i really enjoyed this! im not jumping to read the next books, i think this ended in a good spot, but it was a really great read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

heybrimarie's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Car accident, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

bribree's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abortion

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Ableism