hmstaab's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Body horror, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Physical abuse, Excrement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Colonisation, Death, and Rape
fionamclary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I often struggle with stand-alone SFF because I find that there is not enough room for the requisite world-building, but Hiron Ennes populated this book with numerous small lines that fit seamlessly into the narrative and yet did wonders to flesh out the world.
I did find that the pacing changed rather suddenly about 2/3 of the way through, from a contemplative dread punctuated by brief bursts of action, to suddenly everything kicking off, with revelations and major plot developments happening left and right. This sharp change is my only real quibble with the book.
Bonus: This book has a nonspeaking major character who is never portrayed as needing to be "fixed." There's also just casually a trans old man side character.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape
Minor: Suicide, Gore, and Miscarriage
pantaruja's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Genocide, Suicide, Drug use, Dysphoria, Ableism, and Alcoholism
purplekat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Gore, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
gilroi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think what I appreciate most about this novel is how much it trusts its readers, how confident it is with what it's trying to do. The twists aren't mindfucks, all reveals are telegraphed well in advance. Every change seems earned, all the dread is meaningful, and in the last sliver of the novel it goes from genre to literary, elegantly straddling both qualifiers to say something interesting, detailed, new, and worthwhile about identity, colonialism, gender, and medicine.
I cannot recommend it enough if you like a story bright with darkness, full of intention, inventive prose, lush worldbuilding, and smart narration.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Child abuse, Racism, Cursing, Death, Grief, Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Colonisation, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Dysphoria, War, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
a1exander's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Medical content, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
ichewonpushpins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Alcohol, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Medical content, Sexual violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fatphobia
Horrible Gothic horror brutality told with a dry, clinical tone. This book was a bizarre and shockingly violent ride.harpybuns'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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Infertility
Minor: Animal cruelty, Grief, Vomit, and Gun violence
luthienslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, and Sexual assault
apiecalypsejen's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Grief, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Child death, Animal death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Pregnancy, Murder, and Abandonment