Scan barcode
ankita1996'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Abortion
r_o_s_e'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Self harm, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Racism, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
raptorq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Racism
alannashelfhelp'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Eating disorder and Self harm
heather_harrison'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? Yes
3.5
I will say there isn't so much a sapphic romance, as there is sapphic longing.
This story was dark and bizarre combination of coming of age, and body horror. Some of the prose was awkward and clunky but I found I was more enthralled with the subject... In the way that you can't look away from a train wreck.
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
aileron'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Racism, and Vomit
bluedilly's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
ouijabroad'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
3.75
I read this in about a day because I couldn’t put it down! The writing is beautiful and as a child who never wanted to leave the water and longed to be a mermaid so badly I connected with Ren on some level (not to the extreme she went to of course). I remember hopping around with my legs crisscrossed at the ankles in my elemntary school classroom and being enamored with the mermaids in the cartoon of Peter Pan.
The telling of a coming of age tale that didn’t fall into tropes and cis-heteronormativity was refreshing.
My only real “complaint”, and I’m using that term loosely because as I said I loved this, I don’t know if I would call this book a horror book; there’s really only one visceral scene and the rest, while unsettling (or maybe not depending on if you believe Ren’s ideas about herself) is mostly a coming of age story mixed with a fairy tale…then again, growing up a girl is pretty horrible. The descriptions of how Jim is with the young girls made me seethe and cringe as someone who has experienced this kind of behavior by many men I’ve come into contact with at a young age. It seems universal. I did find a lot of truth in Song’s writing even if Ren and I experienced very different childhoods.
Normally ambiguous endings annoy me but I was satisfied with this one. Then I keep thinking is it ambiguous though?! I think it’s up to the reader and some context clues to decide that.
Again I really loved this even though it strayed pretty far out of my chosen horror genre. Looking forward to reading more of Jade Song’s work in the future!
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, and Abandonment
komaedacoffee's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Blood, and Abortion
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
hwaldooo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment