eilif_has_no_gender's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you are considering this book LOOK AT CONTENT WARNINGS FOR THE BOOK! I personally had to add a lot.
Spoiler
This story follows a genderless doctor from a strange organization named The Institution. It does't have a name and later in the book are called The Institution. The reason I referred to it with It/It's/Its is because it is a parasite in control of humans. The story follows a woman who was controlled by The Institution. She eventually escapes a long with her nonhuman friend, Emilè (There is a high chance I misspelled that).The story has characters who are terrible people (Which I personally love. It shows nonantagonists can be terrible people has well) so if you don't like this this book is for sure not for you.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Child death
Moderate: War, Alcohol, and Miscarriage
Minor: Ableism and Death of parent
justinecm'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Gore, Miscarriage, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Body horror, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Gun violence, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, Genocide, and Alcohol
voxvenati'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? Yes
4.75
So many of the things I could say in favor of this book are spoilers, but even the premise alone is a treat. I can’t express how often I’m let down after a promising synopsis and excellent first chapter. This was not one of those times.
Every chapter builds. Tension. Drama. Intrigue. Every character was crisp and distinct. Every nugget of world building fascinated me. The dialect of the locals. The fables. The history. I am left wanting. Ravenous for more.
It’s dense. It can be clinical at times. I loved it because it fits the narrative. And it does start to change.
Spoiler
I have never had a book reveal the narrator’s pronouns/gender so deep into the story, only to have me second guessing all my previous assumptions.I have never had such a seamless experience reading about LGBTQ+ characters where they just are. It isn’t clumsy or ham-fisted. It’s natural. It’s real. It was so fucking good.
And my dear dead gods, the slow reveal of the post-apocalypse, that the Institute and Pseudomycota are a part of that of that too? Exquisite.
The only reason this wasn’t a full 5 stars is because I never got that overwhelming sense of dread. Still, pretty damn close.
This is all said with the understanding this is a horror. There are some difficult topics. There is medical horror, body horror, and all sorts of other things. Read the content warnings if you have triggers.
But if the premise piques your interest, and if you’re not too squeamish, this is a must read.
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Suicide, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder, Animal cruelty, and Cannibalism
uncreativeoops's review against another edition
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Gore, Violence, Alcoholism, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Body horror, Death, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide
danimacuk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Classism, Violence, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Body horror
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Cursing, Infertility, Drug use, and Grief
chezler24'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? It's complicated
5.0
(I should have finished this book a week ago, but headaches and a busy schedule halted me. If I wasn't hindered by those two things I would have absolutely torn through this book quicker than my timeline shows.)
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Gore
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Dysphoria, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
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
pagesandplanets'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Blood, Miscarriage, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Child death and Alcohol