The Demon Star Content Warnings
The Demon Star is a science fantasy novel. In style and content, it’s closer to epic fantasy than science fiction.
It was written with an adult (18+) audience in mind.
Mild spoilers below.
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CONTEXT AND CONTENT WARNINGS
- This book contains graphic violence, gore, and strong horror elements. There are detailed on-page depictions of human experimentation, torture, cannibalism, child death, and animal death.
- The story takes place in a repressive theocratic society, and deals extensively with the implications of that—namely, indoctrination, abuse, cultural erasure/forced assimilation, and depression with a heavy existential component.
- One POV character deals with severe mental illness, self-harm, and alcoholism. Suicide is discussed, with one brief on-page depiction.
- A major character, who is a child, struggles with internalized ableism. He is the target of ableist language throughout the novel, including on-page emotional abuse by a parent.
- The use of SFF devices like telepathy and possession may prove triggering for readers sensitive to issues of bodily autonomy and consent. Sexual abuse is referenced, but not depicted on-page. One POV character’s backstory involves teenage pregnancy and childbirth.
- Both POV characters are queer, as are many supporting characters. This is considered normal for the setting. None of the abuse depicted is rooted in homophobia, transphobia, or misogyny.
- While the book does include a romantic subplot, this is not a primary focus. There is mild, brief on-page sexual content.
- The characters in The Demon Star are intentionally written as morally ambiguous. I do not personally agree with all their actions/opinions/beliefs.