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avacadosocks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
Minor: Genocide, Vomit, and Rape
entropyseeker's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
3.75
This book was so immensely slow, I didn't start actually being interested in the book until 60% of the way in, though it is a sci-fi novel so that's usually the case. While the first half was confusing with all the time skips, and it was a lot of world building, gore, violence, the last quarter of the book was rather great and built up to quite a few surprising twists that left me gaping. Will still read the second part of the trilogy. Definitely read the content warnings. Not for the front of heart.
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death, Gore, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Rape
brekaboujie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
This book was SO GOOD. Brilliantly captivating, so rich and full of depth, I was completely drawn in to this universe.
I've really foubd a love for sci fi over the laat few years and this was a perfect example of what I really love about the genre when it's done right!!!!! This was a particularly interesting one with a focus on politics and power structures over the more people and cultures centred vibes of Becky Chambers who I also love. This was also so DARK and very violent at times but I was honestly lapping it all up. Multiple instances of me sat on the train hand over my mouth in disbelief. Delicious.
Also can I just talk about that tWIST AT THE END. Look, I read books pretty mindlessly and don't tend to try and work out the plot, I like to let it unravel with time. And the UNRAVELLING. That chapter of 1663 just was SO BRILLIANTLY DONE and made me question everything I'd read!!!! I was suddenly going back and thinking wait, who's perspective has it been from??? Surely we have had her perspective in 1664. BUT NOPE JUST GENIUS TRICKERY such clever writing! Especially as this is the first book so we don't have any preconceptions about Esek, so everything together just makes one picture and then BAM you realise it wasn't one picture at all!!! I honestly kind of want to go back and reread it just to see if there are any hints placed throughout the 1664 chapters. Just so interesting!!!!!
I am very excited by this being a series, I cannot wait to read more of this universe. Going to be recommending this one a lot!!!!
I've really foubd a love for sci fi over the laat few years and this was a perfect example of what I really love about the genre when it's done right!!!!! This was a particularly interesting one with a focus on politics and power structures over the more people and cultures centred vibes of Becky Chambers who I also love. This was also so DARK and very violent at times but I was honestly lapping it all up. Multiple instances of me sat on the train hand over my mouth in disbelief. Delicious.
Also can I just talk about that
I am very excited by this being a series, I cannot wait to read more of this universe. Going to be recommending this one a lot!!!!
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Overall, mostly violence and gore warnings. Gun fights, injuries, lots of blood, and some pretty gnarly descriptions of using knives to harm or kill people. There is one short and pretty low key sex scene, and multiple mentions of sex including reference to a young person (I think underage? Vulnerable at least) being sold against their will for sex. This is brought up/referenced a few times but never mentioned in any detail apart from (I think you could view it this way) one instance of the victim remembering it, but not graphically.
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