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cluckieduck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Tanya Tagaq has such a way with her prose. The juxtaposition of lyrical, poetic flow and crass, vulgar descriptions is really engaging. This was a quick book to read, but the subject matter is far from easy. It is rife with triggering content masked beneath mythical stories that make you question if what you really read just happened, but not wanting to go back and double-check. Some things are better left uncovered.
Empathy is for those who can afford it. Empathy is for the privileged.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
wittchyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Colonisation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Rape, and Suicide attempt
shelise3's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
kmerrow'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Note: it is NSFW or literally any other environment so you want to listen with headphones on or somewhere with thick walls.
That being said, this is undoubtedly the weirdest, most fucked up thing I've ever read. And I mean that as a term of endearment. It also makes it fucking real. This writing is unapologetic. She writes in such a poetic and at times whimsical way, sometimes about truly horrific things. It is fantastical while also dealing with very hard realities like child sexual abuse, which is an overriding theme. It is extremely sexually explicit, whether detailing abuse, consensual sex, sex with animals, and even the northern lights.
If you're easily offended or squeamish, this is not the one for you, but I'd still recommend it to you because it's unforgettable.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Colonisation
laurenmiller100's review against another edition
3.75
“Fear is learning to run from me. Not the other way around.”
Someone on Goodreads called this book the thorniest of roses, and I have to agree. As others have mentioned, big time trigger warnings on this. It’s vulgar, disturbing, beautiful, brutal, mysterious, magical, and deeply upsetting. Definitely a unique read, but one that I struggled with because the content is so difficult. The plot can be winding, vague, and hard to follow because it’s written as poetry. I don’t have much of a mind for poetry even though I love it, so I don’t know that I really followed all the events of this story. That said, what did make a huge impact on me is the feeling that Tagaq is trying to get across. The ending is beautiful and horrible. Tragic and disquieting. I am glad I read it, and I hope to never read it again.
“We are reverberations of our ancestors and songs of our present selves. It is very quiet in the future as it is in the deep past. The quiet. We always live among the dead. It’s scary but the quiet is our true home. This is why we must make the most of our gristle and meat. We must celebrate being harnessed into our bodies. We are a product of the immense torque that propels this universe. We are not individuals but an accumulation of all that lived before.”
- Characters: 6
- Atmosphere/Setting: 10
- Writing Style: 8
- Plot: 7
- Intrigue: 8
- Logic/Relationships: 4
- Enjoyment: 2
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Descriptions are extremely graphic and disturbing.drs's review against another edition
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
livelaughlesbian99's review
5.0
This book is INCREDIBLY dark. If there is ANYTHING that will cause you severe distress while reading I recommend reviewing content warnings online… there are a lot which apply here. Split Tooth doesn’t shy away from the disgusting or the horrifying. There is a lot of abuse happening. However, Split Tooth also captures the beauty of the arctic and folkloric fantasy. I really enjoyed it. I’m disappointed it’s Tanya Tagaq’s only book!
If you read meet the story on its own terms. It has lots to say.
CW: Includes light spoilers. Specifics to help you prepare if you’re concerned. I have accurately tagged in my review below every content warning which applies to the text. There are more than pop up on the general page!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Murder
eggboy397's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
mtabacek'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? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual violence
salemander's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, and Colonisation