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deitydad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The epilogue really gave this book the closure it needed. I was most fascinated with Luke and his story, and it was him that I felt most sad for in the end. He was incredibly flawed, but I suppose we could blame it all on the black, looming cloud marked "AIDS".
As a member of the LGBT+ community, I have a particular... softness you could say? with the AIDS epidemic. It was prevalent in this story, yet skulked in the background like a third, hidden character in each chapter.
Despite this being about murdering, I thought most of the characters were likeable. Am I going to leave this book feeling sorry for them or reasoning with them though? Absolutely not.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder
menderash's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
But you know what? Brite is such an emotionally charged, evocative, talented writer, that I can't help but be hypnotized by his ability to make me sit down and devour a novel in one sitting. He makes me care about the few morally sound characters even though I know something unspeakable is about to happen to them. He explores the nuance of monstrosity in his uhh. Less morally sound characters.
I think my most sound, least hypocritical criticisms of Brite's work is a) his exploitation of real victims of real tragedies and b) his handling or lack thereof of characters of color. The few non-white characters in his work are relegated to the occasional dead body, future victim, or stereotyped backdrop. Then again, considering the kind of character Brite centers as his protagonists, do I really want him, as a white man, to portray a character of color that way? I'm fine with Brite's beloved monsters being mostly white men.
TL;DR: Absolutely disgusting. Awesome ride. I've read all my Brite books I own at least twice.
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Incest and Police brutality
racl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Vomit
Minor: Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Pandemic/Epidemic
remghoul's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Outing
vinett's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Torture, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
quietlex's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bowlingforboots's review
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Gore, Rape, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Racial slurs, Blood, and Police brutality
niccolowilliam's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, and Outing
firstknight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Hate crime, Incest, and Infidelity
janalg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Incest, and Suicide