I've been a fan of Alison Rumfit since reading [book:Tell Me I’m Worthless|57307172] which was a personal favorite of mine. While I didn't think this one was nearly as good, it's definitely one you won't forget! This EXTREME, queer horror had some moments that truly disturbed me and made me literally gag. So if you're into that kind of thing, this could be the book for you…

I definitely got the underlying message of queer people being othered, but this book felt 90% shock value. What are the grossest kinks I can possibly think of? Hmmm, let’s just throw ‘em all in. Never really was sure about what the hell was going on in the plot, but I finished it because I was like, damn, I mean I literally ASKED for this book. Literally requested and got it from the publisher. My biggest qualm was the ending. It just didn't work for me and I was left feeling lackluster as hell and frankly just nauseous and unwell. Still, I do think with some heavy editing this could have been better executed and more powerful.

At least I went into this knowing it would be extremely shocking and probably gross. Now I have to figure out who to give this book to because I can’t say I would feel okay just dropping it off at a goodwill or something.

Brainwyrms is an unsettling, intense, and deeply transgressive horror novel that explores trauma, identity, and obsession. Alison Rumfitt's writing is raw and unapologetic, creating a disturbing atmosphere that lingers long after finishing the book.

The story follows Frankie, a transgender woman dealing with the aftermath of a violent attack, and her entanglement with Vanya, a character whose presence only deepens the sense of unease. The book doesn't hold back- It's grotesque, visceral, and filled with body horror and psychological dread.

While the themes and social commentary are though-provoking, the execution felt uneven at times. Some parts were gripping and effective, while others dragged or felt disjointed. It's definitely not a book for everyone, as it leans heavily into discomfort and surreal horror.

Overall, Brainwyms was an interesting but difficult read. It had strong moments, but something about it kept me from fully loving it.

I appreciate that this book exists. I understand why this book exists. It is definitely horror, but it mostly grossed me out instead of scared me.

So wonderfully disgusting and brilliantly well-written. Alison Rumfitt has really found her stride with this one. Can't wait to read all the future horror from this author.

If body horror is your thing (it is mine, apparently) this delivers with a story that's as revolting as it is captivating. Even while absolutely cringing at the details, I could not stop reading The writing is raw, unapologetic, and brutally honest, which is something I’ve come to love about Rumfitt’s work after Tell Me I’m Worthless.

Frankie’s journey through trauma, obsession, and unraveling secrets pulls you in, even when it feels almost unbearable to look too closely. Rumfitt tackles heavy topics like transphobia, dysphoria, and the darker sides of identity with a boldness I always find respectable and bold, a true signifier of her talent as an artist. The blend of horror with commentary on political violence and personal pain makes Brainwyrms feel visceral and painfully relevant. Brava, brava, brava. If you can stomach it, this is well worth the read.

Unfortunately I could not download this audiobook so I cannot submit a proper review. However I will still be picking up the novel as I do find the premise interesting.

The audiobook was fantastic! The narrator was perfect and I loved their voice. This story is unforgettable. I've never read or listened to anything like it. It held my interest until the very end and I never knew what was going to happen next. The descriptions are absolutely jaw dropping and at times extremely uncomfortable. It's not for the faint of heart! The body horror in this book is next level and beyond. This author is definitely making big waves in the horror genre, and I look forward to seeing what her next novel is. There is definitely an audience for this, but it is niche, and a bit tricky to market to the masses. Overall though- if you can handle it, this is a revolutionary horror read and I highly recommend it!

This was raw, powerful, and not for everyone. I love Alison Rumfitt and will read anything they write. Full review on youtube.

Hmm. Well. Wow. Huh. What the f*** did I just read? This is definitely an unnerving read. I felt intrigued. I felt uncomfortable. And then I just didn’t know what to feel once it was done. This book is undoubtedly well written though. I think Rumfitt did the job. Despite the content, the narration was so soothing. I would only recommend this to my most disturbed friends because this one is not for everyone.

I'm not a horror fan, so I knew this wasn't going to be for me, but I did like how it all related to queerness.

This book was so weird that I didn't know if I would like it or not, but I think I enjoyed it? As much as I enjoyed it, there were some parts that made me feel sick to my stomach. The language and descriptions of the story are so grotesquely detailed and do not spare any details.

Oh my god, what the frick did I just read? Tell Me I'm Worthless was a wild ass ride, but this... this was something else entirely. This was messy, brutal, disgusting, depressing, horrific, and many other words that you could probably surmise from others that were used. I loved it? Am I allowed to even say that? Well, I said it. Read this.

One of my favorite books from 2023. There was a passage I listened to over and over like I wanted to memorise it. Rumfitt writes with the heart of a poet, and I think that makes the horror of the story even more effective. As a bookseller I have recommended Tell me I'm worthless as a physical copy but have suggested readers also take a look at the audio as i did feel it added something. The narrator is astoundingly good, and I love that it's the same person for Brainwryms, so I will suggest the same for this novel. Gorgeous writing with horrific imagery, Rumfitt is not one to be missed or forgotten.

Gross, bizarre and all around interesting. I won’t be forgetting about this for a while. Thanks NetGalley!

This was a highly anticipated listen for me and it absolutely delivered! I had loved Tell Me I'm Worthless and I liked how Brainwyrms explored parallel topics from a different angle! Rumfitt nailed the humorous tone in this one, which balanced really well with the darker elements of the novel! I loved the narration as well! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

I loved Rumitt's first novel, Tell Me I'm Worthless, so I was looking forward to this release. I think is a great follow up that explores similar themes in a new creative way. I really enjoyed how funny this novel is too, there are a lot of dark topics discussed here so the sense of humor is very much needed. I loved the breaking the 4th wall elements as well. My only down side is that this novel gets so weird, gross and dark that it's almost hard to get through. I found myself pushing through instead of sitting and enjoying the novel. It's not a criticism though because I think that is the point of the novel however it did interfere with my personal readability.

I apologize, as I realize this is not really the fault of the author or publisher, but as NetGalley does not have sub genres, this was a complete miss for me. I do read and enjoy various kinds of horror, however splatterpunk or extreme horror, is not one of them. I would not have requested it if it could have been labeled correctly. Also the candid and overly sexualized descriptions is not something I am a fan of.

I did find the opening about trans people and rights to be powerful, moving, and sadly still necessary. For those reasons I would like to support the author, however their style is just not for me.

As I did not complete it, I did not review it good or bad anywhere.

I feel like I'm being punished for not reading TW or reading the synopsis before requesting a book. This was such a brutally gross, queasy read. The actual story was fantastic, but it was hard for me to focus on it with how chaotic and gross the story was. It's not my favorite but I didn't hate it. I also found a new trigger; worms in genitals.. so that's fun.

I'm a big fan of Alison Rumfitt's work and writing style. I think this is a great addition to her collection of work and solidifies me as a fan.

This book was disgusting, triggering, and truly a work made from the darkest, most honest parts of the author’s brain. It was amazing. This is a book designed to go in blind, and for the people who live in the world of LGBTQIAP+, there is so much to recognize and fear and come to terms with. For those who delve into the deeper world of kink, the stuff that sits below the surface comes to light in a disgusting, yet not overly descriptive way. The kinks discussed in this book are well foreshadowed and warned about prior to reading, giving any squeamish people fair warning to stop reading. Absolutely a wonderful piece of psychological body horror.