Inciting real world violence should be off limits.
Hard to imagine how a novel or short story could meet the test for real world incitement, however. At least in the U.S.
Inciting real world violence should be off limits.
Nothing is off limits. But you must understand that the more you delve into taboo subject matter, the fewer people will want to read it.
I bought Throne of Bones due to this thread. I’ve only read the first story. Yeah, it’s very good. Looking looking forward to the rest.
Hard to imagine how a novel or short story could meet the test for real world incitement, however. At least in the U.S.
Anything that is gratuitous and there to gross the reader out. Whatever is the literary equivalent to the cinematic jump-cut or blood hitting the lens. Also anything that is boring. Too much description of how any/something is done [that doesn't move the plot along] should be avoided. This is also why I try not to write sex scenes. I haven't read an engaging sex scene. I ready several [what I consider to be] well written seduction scenes...
I like Lovecraftian Horror. And most of the time there, it is left at vague descriptions and then "to hideous for the human mind to comprehend". The reader has to join the dots. Let the reader add the colour to the scene. Their imagination will work better.
They didn't like what they read. as for the WHY of that? That is in the eye/mind of the reader.
No book is loved [or even liked] by everyone who reads it. Not a horror tale but I have a friend that thinks "To kill a Mockingbird" was "boring...", as that is one of my favourite books I can't comprehend why someone would think that and I an certain that he is WRONG. But he isn't. He found it boring.
It is up to your audience to decide what is they want to read.
That said [almost certainly] there will be laws about obscenity in any market you try to publish.
What is defined as obscene will vary.
Some will be very restrictive on violence [especially to women], pornography, drug use, hate speech, gender, sexuality issues or political ideologies [I think it is still illegal to own/display a swastika in Germany, for any purpose - but I guess that Hindus and Buddhists find a way around this?!?].
Long ago I read a book that started with the gang rape of a [barely] teenage girl on a Cathedral's steps. Page 1 para 1.
It was a graphic, violent and very detailed rape but it was suitable [even needed] for the tone and content of the story being told. In another tale I might have put the book down and walked away... Admittedly I haven't reread this tale...