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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with this. The setup reeled me in but the execution just fell flat. I understand it was meant to be deep and poetic but in the nicest way possible it just came off as juvenile? It just didn’t hit for me.
I felt nothing prominent for any of the characters but the most emotion Khalani pulled from me was anger when she constantly used Takeshi’s shared personal story against him. It was so fucked up since previously she recognized they were both victims of situations they could not control. For someone supposedly so introspective this seemed like a ploy just to continue this enemies to lovers shit, but I digress.
I felt nothing prominent for any of the characters but the most emotion Khalani pulled from me was anger when she constantly used Takeshi’s shared personal story against him. It was so fucked up since previously she recognized they were both victims of situations they could not control. For someone supposedly so introspective this seemed like a ploy just to continue this enemies to lovers shit, but I digress.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
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
This book did something visceral to my brain chemistry. Finished within 24 hours. If you are looking at reviews to decide whether to read it. THIS IS YOUR SIGN. DO IT. Absolutely beautiful. I have.. so much to say..
spoilers below-
K has grown up in a post apocalyptic world designed to snuff out any sense of autonomy and original thinking. Her parents were murdered in the name of immortality by the same "government" that sentenced her to life in jail for a crime she didn't commit - a crime that changed her life.
She was empty, aching for the bittersweet escape from whatever this "society" is supposed to be. But the poetry rang through her and turned into a catalyst for her personal growth. She was no longer brainwashed by the absense of creativity. She began to question everything, and that saved her.
T is the picture of inner turmoil. A protector, a good man, brainwashed by the robocop brigade. He was lost and k was exactly what he needed to sway back over the line of morality. Compliance no more
T and K truly bring out the best in eachother. He shows her how to rebuke the term "powerless" and control her own life. She was strong on her own, but he helped her see what she was truly capable.
She woke him up from everything and gave him new purpose. The purpose he was meant for. He has the chance to be good. He can use it to save so many lives. They will never make up for the sons and daughters that perished and suffered while he stood by complicit, but it might be how he finds peace and forgiveness. Not only for his circumstance, but for himself.
Honorable mention:
WINNIE HEHEHEHE I LUV U SO MUCH MAMA ♡
Conclusion:
This book is amazing. The writing is beautiful. The plot is paced perfectly. The TWISTS oh my god. Left the perfect amount of questions to leave me aching for more but not completely confused. Just. Perfection. Easiest 5 star rating of my life
I have not slept in 30 hours but I will be starting the 2nd book right now. Thank you for coming to my ted talk
spoilers below-
K has grown up in a post apocalyptic world designed to snuff out any sense of autonomy and original thinking. Her parents were murdered in the name of immortality by the same "government" that sentenced her to life in jail for a crime she didn't commit - a crime that changed her life.
She was empty, aching for the bittersweet escape from whatever this "society" is supposed to be. But the poetry rang through her and turned into a catalyst for her personal growth. She was no longer brainwashed by the absense of creativity. She began to question everything, and that saved her.
T is the picture of inner turmoil. A protector, a good man, brainwashed by the robocop brigade. He was lost and k was exactly what he needed to sway back over the line of morality. Compliance no more
T and K truly bring out the best in eachother. He shows her how to rebuke the term "powerless" and control her own life. She was strong on her own, but he helped her see what she was truly capable.
She woke him up from everything and gave him new purpose. The purpose he was meant for. He has the chance to be good. He can use it to save so many lives. They will never make up for the sons and daughters that perished and suffered while he stood by complicit, but it might be how he finds peace and forgiveness. Not only for his circumstance, but for himself.
Honorable mention:
WINNIE HEHEHEHE I LUV U SO MUCH MAMA ♡
Conclusion:
This book is amazing. The writing is beautiful. The plot is paced perfectly. The TWISTS oh my god. Left the perfect amount of questions to leave me aching for more but not completely confused. Just. Perfection. Easiest 5 star rating of my life
I have not slept in 30 hours but I will be starting the 2nd book right now. Thank you for coming to my ted talk
3.5 Stars.
The vibes:
- post apocalyptic
- Heavy themes
- Slow burn
- Book 1 in trilogy
- Enemies
- Underground prison
- Found family
- Closed door
My thoughts:
This is a tricky book to review because I had a lot of conflicting feelings about the journey 🤣. I enjoyed it from the aspect of it being a unique read. The world building felt slow, but I assume we get more in the next book because there will be quite a lot of explaining to do.
As far as the romance goes, I wanted a little bit more from each main character. I enjoyed their dynamic but after I finished the book I was questioning just how much I knew about them individually and together- and the answer felt like not very much.
The setting for most of this book takes place in prison, which made for an interesting setting. It sets the book in a heavy way and is a great backdrop for some of the dark themes that are in this one (ie hopelessness/assault).
With a lot of the focus on the prison dynamics, I found myself asking a lot of questions about the scenarios that were occurring in this supposedly high security prison. I don’t want to be spoilery so I’ll just say that a lot of the prison developments/activities didn’t quite make sense to me logistically. Nobody is noticing the hangouts and conversations happening that are not “allowed”?
While I did question things and had moments that didn’t fully make sense for me, I did still really enjoy this read. It was something that felt different to me which I love to see. It almost reminds me of Shatter Me in the vibes and also in the way that I enjoyed the journey while having a lot of concerns and questions by the end.
Note - closed door (not “clean/wholesome”); some language.
Check CW if you have concerns
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes