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psykobilliethekid'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
kelseyr713's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War
karlasaysbleh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Miscarriage
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- 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
This was so unique from all my other reads lately, and so much was packed in a lil dark fairy tale novella, woweeee! This follows a serial killer mermaid (but like, idk give her a break okay) and a nonbinary plague doctor in an apocalyptic wasteland.
The prose was lyrical, lush, dreamy, eerie, visceral. I don't really know how to write a review that does this novella justice, but I had a great time. The commentary on what it means to be human, connection, love, and more in a society where those sentiments, concepts, or practices are almost extinct?
I had to look up a lot of words because again, the prose is incredibly flowery and I'm just a mere peasant, but oh wow, the vibes were immaculate!!!!
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
e_l_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
That doubt was dashed from my mind from the first page onwards.
Khaw has a way with descriptive prose that my English teachers would have envied, coveted, before gagging at how vivid the depictions of viscera and horrible violence are. This is NOT a book for the faint of heart or stomach. But it is a spellbinding tale of rediscovery, self-acceptance, and love in the face of pure, selfish evil.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
There is a short story at the very end of the book that presents the events directly precluding the main narrative.garfluvr420's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
zmeiat'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? No
2.75
Not to mention that there were many cool concepts in the story that were not explored enough. The mermaids daughters, for example - with their sinister presence only appear at the start of the book and peace out for the rest of it. We should also have gotten much more backstory of the protagonists and the world itself needed more context and structure.
Point is, and terribly sorry to say, this was to short of a book. Honestly still good, but the issues were to glaring.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Confinement
graycegotlostinthelibrary'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death and Miscarriage
ceruleanseas'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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement, Miscarriage, Rape, and Pregnancy