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casey_larsen's review
- 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
I'm glad I continued, and towards the end, I couldn't stop listening I was enjoying it so much. Not to mention the diversity of characters was incredible in both POC and the range of LGBTQIA+ representation. It's what more books should aspire to include. It does get graphic at times with the blood, but it's because their magic comes from using blood, so it only make sense. I just wish I had been a little more prepared, as blood can make me a little weak in the knees lol.
Overall, it's a beautifully fantastical story about love
As for the second book coming out, I do plan to read it. However, I'm not sure what's going to happen because everything was wrapped up pretty nicely in this first one, so I'm curious to see what Sambury does.
Graphic: Blood and Slavery
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
librarybookscene's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Racism, Classism, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Medical trauma, Outing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Cancer
bookhoarderbea'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Murder, Death, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Transphobia, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
audeira'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Transphobia, Addiction, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Eating disorder
legalplanner'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
When we meet Voya in the beginning of the novel it's a bit tough to wrap your head around just exactly how far in the future it is, what exactly is the same and what isn't, and just how the magic is working here. I found that the first 6-7 chapters were really the "world building" chapters that had all of the information you needed to know about the Thomas family.
Voya's magic only will arrive after her calling, a task she must complete successfully to obtain her magic. Her task is to fall in love and kill them. How is she supposed to do that when she's never been in love? When she is placed in a genetic matchmaking program she is partnered with Luc her perfect match. Yet he's horrible and she's not sure how she can make him fall in love with her.
This was the perfect tail of old magic, story telling from generation to generation, and how technology can be scary. I thoroughly enjoyed how enthralling this story was toward the end. You kept turning pages because you wanted to know what was going to happen to Voya and Luc. Voya could be frustrating at times because I wanted her to have a bit more of a spine, but she's a sixteen year old girl who has never not had her family's support.
It was interesting to see how the Genetics played such a major roll in this novel, but how even though it was a major aspect many of the modifications wasn't treated like a big deal. I loved the inclusivity of this novel. More than that I loved that the inclusivity was just normal.
The only reason I didn't give this the 5 stars it may have deserved was the loose ends at the end. Sure we got the nice neat bow on the ending, but it felt as if there was a lot to be set up for the next novel and instead of mostly shutting the door and leaving a crack it felt like the door stopped closing and I have SO many questions.
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Racism and Addiction
Minor: Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Transphobia
quejk25'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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Racism, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Death, Death of parent, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Hate crime, Outing, Transphobia, and Violence
aproudmc13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Outing, Racism, and Transphobia
cemeterygay'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? Yes
5.0
Between the wonderful focus on family, the amazing cast of characters, the interesting worldbuilding, and interesting exploration of choice and generational trauma.
I love Voya as a main character and her compassion comes through, although her initial indecision could be somewhat of a problem. I adored her relationship with her complicated relationship with her family. The author did a great job with building empathy for Voya and the stresses and mistreatment she at time faces from her family.
I also really liked Luc as a romantic interest and I adored him as trans Latino rep. I love the asshole who only likes one person kind of person and he hits that mark so well. I love the complicated relationship he has with his identity as a Latino boy and his sponsor.
I also loved how Voya's ancestors played a role in her growth and her involvement with her family.
The blend of sci-fi and fantasy was great and I love how well-integrated Toronto was into the story and worldbuilding. I liked the world as a whole and I thought it was well blended into the story. I like how contemporary issues were addressed in context of the future time period.
I love the full cast of side characters and I think quite a bit of the characters were given depth, especially other
I am intensely excited for the next book and I did ultimately like how the primary conflict was resolved in this book.
Graphic: Blood, Police brutality, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Racism, Drug abuse, Death, Murder, and Eating disorder
Minor: Transphobia
Death of a motheramalyndb's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction and Eating disorder
Minor: Transphobia, Gun violence, and Racism
unwise_samwise'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Torture and Medical content
Minor: Transphobia and Police brutality