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caryndi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
There was a decent amount of dramatic irony built up going into this book, because we as readers knew what Atlas' plan was, whereas Libby did not trust what she was told about Atlas' plan. That alone was a great setup for conflict. Libby's choices and the choices of the other characters in the book added new layers that really had me wanting to learn where it all was headed.
One thing I want to applaud the author for is how well she took as us readers along for the ride. My experience was that I came out of the first two books rooting for specific characters and against others, and a lot of that was turned upside down in this book. It wasn't even a sense of "well this person/story is just boring me now"—but of her showing the characters growing and changing in ways that was really gratifying as a reader. I never would have imagined I'd feel so strongly about certain characters or relationships but for example
Additionally, this series was built around character relationships and they continued to be on point. This book was perhaps the gayest of all of them (always a plus!) and explored some new character/relationship dynamics that I enjoyed. I'm also a sucker for the "everyone is a bit in love with everyone else" trope and the six main characters really had that going on. Even when it was outside of actual romantic relationships—I'm a sucker for that blurring of friendship vs. something deeper and boy did I get that!
The structure of the book and the names of the sections were clear allusions to the author's philosophical inspirations and I think this book also lived up to that promise. I am not deep enough into philosophy to have more than a surface level understanding of the various systems she referenced but in terms of calling for that kind of thought, and being an examination of choice and outcomes, I thought it was a triumph. The ending of this book was satisfyingly unsatisfying (kinda spoiler,
If I have one critique it would be with the very very last chapter: I just don't think it was needed. I can see the argument for putting it in there, especially knowing that readers come to things with different levels of engagement and understanding. But IMO it would have been better to leave that off—to go without that concrete "here is the moral". I think the book lead readers, at least careful ones, to that conclusion.
Final thought: I appreciate Ms. Blake doing her part to make sure everyone knew her characters were all very sexy. That's the kind of effort I respect. (Also I'm curious if color versions of the character art exists anywhere!)
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Grief
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
amelianotthepilot'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Toxic friendship
stormeno's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
shelbybean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Classism
aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment
barda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Sexism
takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This series is so hard to form coherent thoughts around because it really is so unique and unlike anything else I've read. To quote Ms Olivie Blake herself: "The relationships will be the plot, because relationships are all that matter. They're all we can ever take with us. They're the only real things we leave behind."
I've seen some mixed reviews of this book and I truly don't know what people were expecting having read the first two books? The characters are the focus. Their relationship dynamics are what makes this series interesting. The point of this book is to make you think about our existence. It's a rumination on the meaning of life. Do our choices matter? Is it all worth it?
Does that mean that this series it not for everyone? Absolutely! But I for one actually look forward to rereading this series for the rest of my life!
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Police brutality, and Dementia
celery'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism