I'm a bit biased in my lack of preference for this one because I recently read the author's second novel, "The Spirit Bares it's Teeth", which was more polished compared to this one. I also preferred the romance, prose, and characters of that one more.

Overall I enjoy White's style. He has a knack for conveying raw gruesome imagery that deeply disturbs, and for writing deeply awful antagonists. I also love the use of body horror, transformation, and monstrocity to portray trans stories. I too envy a more grotesque form on occasion. 

However there are times when his writing toes the line of overdoing it and instead comes across as just edgy. This debut novel definitely steps that line at various points throughout the book, but I'm glad he's inproving his craft. 

The plot sucked me in and kept me engaged with a fast pace throughout most of the book. However past the 75% mark it started to lull for me. There were a few sudden twists and things that came up at the end that had me scrunching by brows and thinking, "Well that was convenient." The lead up to the final stand off kinda seemed to drag on and like Benji was seriously underestimating himself, which I could not understand why given his *situation* at the end.

Overall still an enjoyable read.