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honestlyholly's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This had some excellent commentary on a woman's right to choose whether she has/wants children or not. It was honestly a realistic dystopia; I can imagine in America they would operate a lottery system that dictated who was allowed to have children, and of course, only the women would be controlled!
The only thing I was slightly disappointed in was the epilogue? It said it was a dream, but was it real? Idk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Abortion, Domestic abuse, and Blood
Minor: Murder
britt_zonnebloempit's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Let's start with the quotation marks. Or lack thereof. They exist for a reason - please use them!
Another issue I have is the lack of world building. There is a lottery, okay! But why? What part of the world is this set in? Is it even in this world or is it somewhere else entirely. Until the cabin I had a hard time imagining anything about Calla'a surroundings.
I just wish there was more to the world. I want more of a background as to why this lottery exists! What happened to put this into the world? What is going on? Where the hell on earth are they?
I was going to give this 1 star, but then they reached the hospital after Nova was born and it turned out Marisol had betrayed her - a plot twist I didn't see coming. The only reason it was worth more than 1 star.
Calla was extremely unlovable. It read like the brain of a fourteen year old misunderstood teenager who feels like the whole world is against them. You're a grown woman, please act like it.
Unfortunately, Calla wasn't the only unlovable character. Marisol, Lila, Therese and Valerie were all equally unlovable, much like Calla's friend in the beginning whose name ove forgotten. The men are especially unlovable, but maybe that's just because they're not even allowed to have full names. Hard to feel anything for someone referred to as "R" or "Doctor A." (See? Quotation marks are helpful!)
She goes through all the trouble of running away so she can have the baby she so desperately wants, but then, when she's close to the border and has a chance, she gets caught. In the hospital Marisol lets her see Nova and Calla decides to GIVE the baby she's done all this for away to a woman who betrayed her? IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE.
The whole book makes no sense, when I really think about it. It was honestly a waste of my time and I'm almost sorry I read it.
Another issue I have is the lack of world building. There is a lottery, okay! But why? What part of the world is this set in? Is it even in this world or is it somewhere else entirely. Until the cabin I had a hard time imagining anything about Calla'a surroundings.
I just wish there was more to the world. I want more of a background as to why this lottery exists! What happened to put this into the world? What is going on? Where the hell on earth are they?
Calla was extremely unlovable. It read like the brain of a fourteen year old misunderstood teenager who feels like the whole world is against them. You're a grown woman, please act like it.
Unfortunately, Calla wasn't the only unlovable character. Marisol, Lila, Therese and Valerie were all equally unlovable, much like Calla's friend in the beginning whose name ove forgotten. The men are especially unlovable, but maybe that's just because they're not even allowed to have full names. Hard to feel anything for someone referred to as "R" or "Doctor A." (See? Quotation marks are helpful!)
She goes through all the trouble of running away so she can have the baby she so desperately wants, but then, when she's close to the border and has a chance, she gets caught. In the hospital Marisol lets her see Nova and Calla decides to GIVE the baby she's done all this for away to a woman who betrayed her? IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE.
The whole book makes no sense, when I really think about it. It was honestly a waste of my time and I'm almost sorry I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
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