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ihavedna's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the type of story that deserves to be a multi book epic. I think I enjoyed the first 3/4ths of the novel in terms of political intrigue and the last third or fourth wasn't quite as well wrought. I would absolutely read a trilogy or ten book epic if we are allowed to have do-overs.
geliopoulos's review against another edition
3.0
three gripes with this:
- you're really gonna have a queernorm world and deliberately exclude any trans or nonbinary characters? yikes dude
- elfreda has better chemistry with like three other people before her actual love interest
- if one of the main selling points of your story is cannabilism, there had better be hannibal levels of "the food is people" god DAMMIT
fun times otherwise
- you're really gonna have a queernorm world and deliberately exclude any trans or nonbinary characters? yikes dude
- elfreda has better chemistry with like three other people before her actual love interest
- if one of the main selling points of your story is cannabilism, there had better be hannibal levels of "the food is people" god DAMMIT
fun times otherwise
ticktock's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Rape, Violence, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
dame_samara's review against another edition
5.0
This book is SO GAY, and it Slaps!!!!
I was completely engrossed in this story from beginning to end! It's the first time in a long time that I have felt fully immersed in the story's world. It quenched my need for great worldbuilding. In more than one scene, I could picture it so clearly.
I feel like the back cover description of this book does a disservice. There is so much more going on in this book because it leaves out giant portions of this plot that also make it interesting *cough* Found Family *Cough* I found myself loving El and her friends so much throughout this. They work so hard to support each other even when the world is against them.
So in considering this book, please use the lower two paragraphs of the description to determine best if you will enjoy this book.
Before you go forward with this book, you should know the content is dark and contains content that could (will) be disturbing.
Content Warning for Blood, Canabilism, Rape, Abortion, Torture, Famine, Violence, Self Harm, Vomit,
I was completely engrossed in this story from beginning to end! It's the first time in a long time that I have felt fully immersed in the story's world. It quenched my need for great worldbuilding. In more than one scene, I could picture it so clearly.
I feel like the back cover description of this book does a disservice. There is so much more going on in this book because it leaves out giant portions of this plot that also make it interesting *cough* Found Family *Cough* I found myself loving El and her friends so much throughout this. They work so hard to support each other even when the world is against them.
So in considering this book, please use the lower two paragraphs of the description to determine best if you will enjoy this book.
Before you go forward with this book, you should know the content is dark and contains content that could (will) be disturbing.
Content Warning for Blood, Canabilism, Rape, Abortion, Torture, Famine, Violence, Self Harm, Vomit,
sonice's review against another edition
DNF'd at about 25%. I almost never do this. Even when I'm really disliking a book I tend to push on. I just can't with this one.
I'm choosing to not give a star rating either, because I don't think it's fair for me to do so without having finished it. I will however give a few thoughts.
On the one hand, the ideas here are so, so good. I WANT to like this book and keep going, just to see what the author does with this world and setting. This had an incredible amount of potential. A lot of reviews speak to how unique and different this book is, and I can already confirm that to be true. We need more of this type of thing in the genre.
On the other hand, the execution is...sigh. I hate to be so negative, but the writing is just terrible. Clunky sentence structure. Characters who are completely flat. Baffling plot contrivances (even so early on, some of the setup has been such a stretch that my suspension of disbelief was about to snap). SO. MANY. SEMICOLONS. And most importantly, a complete failure to keep my attention at all. I'm bored beyond belief, which is an accomplishment in itself given how engaged I should be based on the cool ideas alone.
I'm choosing to not give a star rating either, because I don't think it's fair for me to do so without having finished it. I will however give a few thoughts.
On the one hand, the ideas here are so, so good. I WANT to like this book and keep going, just to see what the author does with this world and setting. This had an incredible amount of potential. A lot of reviews speak to how unique and different this book is, and I can already confirm that to be true. We need more of this type of thing in the genre.
On the other hand, the execution is...sigh. I hate to be so negative, but the writing is just terrible. Clunky sentence structure. Characters who are completely flat. Baffling plot contrivances (even so early on, some of the setup has been such a stretch that my suspension of disbelief was about to snap). SO. MANY. SEMICOLONS. And most importantly, a complete failure to keep my attention at all. I'm bored beyond belief, which is an accomplishment in itself given how engaged I should be based on the cool ideas alone.
hmcreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
5.0
theduchess93's review against another edition
2.0
What a disappointment. I'm very tired of books billing themselves as queer and then not actually exploring any kind of queerness, or just having some side characters who are queer. Also, the character development was abysmal and I could not tell you a single thing about any of them. Again, I was so excited for this because the premise sounded so unique and interesting.
oramayjutila's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Rape and Abortion