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saintersatz's review
- 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? Yes
4.25
This book left me feeling completely empty, but I enjoyed the wild ride all the same.
This book was a page-turner. Somewhat predictable moments in plot, but not in a way that spoiled the fun. Sometimes very funny, often very emotional, and almost always very disturbing.
I have a hard time recommending this book, not only for the deeply transgressive themes and scenes, but also because it feels a bit like empty horror. I didn't have much of a takeaway and I felt almost numb by the ending-- but perhaps there's some cruel genius in that?
Check the trigger warnings and read if it seems up your alley. Have fun!
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
This books takes place during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 80s/90s. Some may find the harsh discussion about this disease and the politics surrounding it difficult. This book contains several non-consensual sexual scenes between queer men, including murder, rape, cannibalism, and necrophilia. Very disturbing and not for the faint of heart.sammysamsam's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Slavery, Excrement, Death of parent, and Colonisation
booksofautumn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
frantasticmissfox'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
finleyfrogreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was absolutely repugnant to read, and frankly not enjoyable. The characters all sucked in their own ways, some more than others obviously - the discourse on HIV/AIDS was heinous and the grotesque descriptions of carrion and murder were horrifyingly indulgent. The love affair with abuse that all the characters (even the good ones) seemed to foster was gross as well.
I’m not naïve in expecting this book to be pleasant reading, but it could’ve been done in such a better way. This was just literal torture porn. In addition one of the fundamental plot points is just… unbelievable? Andrew somehow managing to basically die without actually dying, getting the better of actual medical professionals and then coming back to consciousness at the exact right time? Sure. Made the whole book even more ridiculous.
I wouldn’t recommend this even if it was good, but it wasn’t. So what’s the point?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
katrione's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
horatioed's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
Minor: Pedophilia
zomblex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail