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donna93a16'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
4.0
Minor: Death
trippalli'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Excrement
Moderate: Death
anarmandameg'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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
freshaircure'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
caprivoyant's review against another edition
However! I did have a 1 problem with the content of the book and learned later that the marketing for the book/author was disingenuous. ⬇️
Content problem: There is no need to use the r-word.
Marketing problem: Apparently this book was marketed at a Native Hawai'ian story — the marketing also implied that the author himself is Native Hawai'ian. It might have been inspired by Native Hawai'ian myths, but this is not representative of Native Hawai'ian culture or beliefs (found this with a quick Google).
So! Read with care/caution if you choose to read at all. I didn't know. Now I know.
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcohol
andalucia'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
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death
bekarebeka'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, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Mother, Malia, and her husband, Augie, are struggling to provide for their family of five. Siblings Nainoa (aka Noa), Dean, and Kaui are all trying to find their place in the world. Noa was known as a savior growing up. After being saved from drowning by sharks, Noa discovers some abilities, and Malia starts to believe in the native legends and Hawaiian gods again. Malia and Augie seem to favor Noa, so Dean and Kaui are left to find acceptance elsewhere. Each sibling grapples with their identity as they grow up and try to find their place both in Hawaii and on the mainland as Malia struggles to live life without her children.
I found some of this novel to be quite slow. There were moments of beautiful atmosphere and ambiance, and the way the novel handled grief was so realistic. I loved a lot of things about it, but I just found that the story didn't have quite the impact I was hoping it would. It might be that the plot didn't hit quite as hard due to me listening to the audiobook. However, I still enjoyed the story and the writing.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
cozmyer's review against another edition
2.75
Moderate: Death
_rowantree_'s review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism