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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. I’m not great at reviews, not great at putting into words what a book made me feel, but I highly recommend this one
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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:
No
All work of fiction is based on at least grains of truth. Sometimes wrapping reality in trappings of fiction or fantasy can help us understand and grasp how broken reality is. The author of this book does exactly that, wrapping reality in a veil of fantasy and then peeling it away to reveal how cold and harsh our societies treat the individuals who do not fit the mold of what is considered “normal.” No matter how much progress has been made to protect those who are marginalized, it is either not enough or never lasts. Like the the waves of the ocean beating on rocky shores, our societies continuously crash against those who are different, eroding them little by little until they are destroyed or have been shaped into someone that is completely different and unrecognizable but for the time being acceptable. How ironic is that the people who fear that accepting those who are different will change them, insist on changing those who are different to fit their version of what is normal. They demand that those who are different, those who do not necessarily want anyone to change for them but to simply accept them for who they are, that those people need to twist and contort their bodies and spirits to fit the limited definition of normalcy set by society.
The main character is so well written, the author draws you so that his experience becomes your experience. The fear, the anxiety, the self-doubt, the anger and rage.
This book exposes a lot of terrible undercurrents that are present in society when it comes to treatment of the vulnerable and challenges the reader to refute a harsh judgment they deserve. “I should not have to keep fixing the damage done to us. It would be so easy to not hurt us, and the Speakers can’t even do that. It’s more work to hurt us. It’s more work to be cruel. And yet they continue.”
This is fantasy, history, suspense, horror, and reality all twisted into a gripping tale that is hard to put down until the very end.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Medical content, Abortion
dark
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
This was so intense. I was listening to it in the car with my hands clenched tight to the steering wheel. Even though I knew where parts of the story would go, I was still horrified and stunned by it. This was chilling and I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Murder
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy