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jess_always_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I loved the different lived experiences depicted amongst the diverse characters (including a poly relationship!) and he world-building without clear explanation was a fun mystery to unravel as I went along.
Highly recommend, Jemisin has an incredible gift and so much talent! I've already requested the next one in the series from my local library.
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Violence, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Pedophilia and Cannibalism
lowpollie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Body horror
Minor: Pedophilia and Transphobia
barda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol and Pedophilia
anxiousshorebird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The most original sci-fi/fantasy I've read. Great prose. The second person narrative was weird at first, but it's really beautiful and switched between that and third person. The themes are dark and handled with finesse. The representation is thorough, authentic, and intertwined seamlessly into the story. The characters are all complex and interesting. The society and political structure of the Stillness is as well. Just a perfect book.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape and Pedophilia
anniehayez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Pregnancy, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Grief, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Vomit, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Transphobia, Trafficking, and Torture
rmperezpadilla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Torture, Child death, Racism, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Slavery, and Sexual violence
Minor: Pedophilia and Rape
stephkitten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia
glitterdeww's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beyond Jemisin's incredible world and character development (which, if you know you know, omg! Lol) I found the structure of the story, from first page to last, to be remarkable. I'm fairly certain that if I was not told how well done this book was, I may not have dug into every scene to the extent that I did upon first go through. But goddamnit lol I cannot get over the level of precision in her story structure. The breadcrumbs she leaves... The explanation and then LACK of explanation to guide the reader into drawing those conclusions... The crafting is perfection.
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Classism, Death, Genocide, and Hate crime
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
ches2496's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
The world building was intricate and well thought-out, and the mysteries kept me reading and wanting to find out what happened. It’s also why I will continue the series!
The bad:
I wasn’t a huge fan of the second person used for certain perspectives, but I could work with it.
Trigger warnings explanation:
This book was pretty dark. Although the violence wasn’t graphically depicted, generally, there was a lot of violence against children. Which made sense for the plot, but was also difficult to read. There was quite a bit of sexual content, although usually not graphically described. Things like the breeding of humans made sense for the plot. It was referred to, but not described graphically. There was at least one moderately graphic scene involving a three-way. There were also two brief references made to sexual violence against children.
Conclusion:
Overall, it was an interesting, albeit dark fantasy with unique world-building and an intricate plot!
Graphic: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Child death
Moderate: Xenophobia, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Violence, Racial slurs, Murder, War, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
ctara2123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Genocide, Death, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol and Cannibalism