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sana98's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
taylorlanxon's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Incest, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Medical trauma
jugglingpup's review
3.0
To see a full review check it out here.
Really hit or miss. The ones that hit though, oh boy, they turned my stomach and will haunt me for weeks.
Really hit or miss. The ones that hit though, oh boy, they turned my stomach and will haunt me for weeks.
vexatiousbird's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
As with all compilations it’s a mixed bag, but the good stuff is really good and memorable, and most of the less good stuff is at least interesting conceptually. A lot of it is very conceptual in fact, almost more psychological horror than body horror, but I like both so it worked for me. I skipped a few stories, but not a lot. Thought-provoking, often genuinely creepy, liable to haunt your dreams/nightmares.
Favorites: Natural Skin, Painlessness, Atwater, The Truth that Lies Under Skin and Meat, Spores, You Go Where it Takes You
Content warnings: all of them, probably. Not a lot goes unexplored, from suicide and terminal illness to sexual slavery and incest.
Favorites: Natural Skin, Painlessness, Atwater, The Truth that Lies Under Skin and Meat, Spores, You Go Where it Takes You
Content warnings: all of them, probably. Not a lot goes unexplored, from suicide and terminal illness to sexual slavery and incest.
jiggityjog's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
coelacanth's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
smalefowles's review
3.0
Ugh, I don't know. Anthologies are tough. Also 'body horror' has a much broader definition than I perhaps realized.
I almost gave up on this collection twice, but made myself keep going because I cannot internalize the sunk cost fallacy and I knew some of my favorite horror writers were in the second half.
Ultimately I guess enjoyed a few stories:
“The Lake” by Tananarive Due is very well done.
"Spores" by Seanan McGuire seemed a little too possible for my comfort.
"A True Friend" by Brian Evenson was a very short, very effective piece.
Kiernan is perhaps my favorite horror writer, and her story here is just okay. I think it reminded me too much of Koja's The Cipher, which is a true horrible classic of body horror.
“Cinereous” by Livia Llewellyn did a tremendous amount of world-building very quickly, and I should look up more work by her.
I almost gave up on this collection twice, but made myself keep going because I cannot internalize the sunk cost fallacy and I knew some of my favorite horror writers were in the second half.
Ultimately I guess enjoyed a few stories:
“The Lake” by Tananarive Due is very well done.
"Spores" by Seanan McGuire seemed a little too possible for my comfort.
"A True Friend" by Brian Evenson was a very short, very effective piece.
Kiernan is perhaps my favorite horror writer, and her story here is just okay. I think it reminded me too much of Koja's The Cipher, which is a true horrible classic of body horror.
“Cinereous” by Livia Llewellyn did a tremendous amount of world-building very quickly, and I should look up more work by her.
jesteralexa's review
I didn’t enjoy enough of the stories, sometimes there wasn’t enough explicit explanation of events for em to keep up with what was happing within the stories. Didn’t enjoy enough to continue
the_bookroyal's review
challenging
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5