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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
I may have gone in to this book with my expectations a little too high as I previously read K M Szpara's debut release and absolutely loved it. They have a talent for writing in a way that messes with the reader's mind and throws them into the mindset of their characters who are so messy and difficult to relate to. And whilst, from a distance, I could see glimpses of this writing style again in First, Become Ashes, I just didn't care for these characters or this slightly fantastical storyline either.
I loved the dystopian setting of his previous story and I felt the world building and overall societal mindset was what really gave Docile it's atmosphere and again, this book was a lot smaller minded and I just didn't love that anywhere near as much.
I liked that K M Szpara didn't shy away from trauma and emotions and sexuality in this story but overall, I just didn't connect to these characters and I didn't love the plot and by the end I just felt fine about it.
I am, however, going to continue reading K M Szpara's future releases and I do think this may just not be for me and I trust them to throw some more really messed up and delusional gays my way.
I loved the dystopian setting of his previous story and I felt the world building and overall societal mindset was what really gave Docile it's atmosphere and again, this book was a lot smaller minded and I just didn't love that anywhere near as much.
I liked that K M Szpara didn't shy away from trauma and emotions and sexuality in this story but overall, I just didn't connect to these characters and I didn't love the plot and by the end I just felt fine about it.
I am, however, going to continue reading K M Szpara's future releases and I do think this may just not be for me and I trust them to throw some more really messed up and delusional gays my way.
I was introduced to KM Szpara through his first book, Docile. And though Docile was dark and controversial and definitely not for everyone, I loved it because it kept me thinking and I couldn't stop reading. I couldn't look away from it, much like a car wreck or something wrong you know you're not supposed to be witnessing, but you look anyway. That's what Szpara's writing is like as a whole, because this book was very similar. Though not as dark and vivid as Docile, I still found it plenty disturbing, and KM Szpara is not afraid to make his readers uncomfortable. He does not shy away from taboo subjects and graphic detail, and he is not afraid to write flawed characters with flawed relationships that make the reader question how they're supposed to feel.
This book is . . . weird. There are moments where you can't tell what's real and what's not. There are complex characters put in terrible situations, there are strange happenings, and there are horrifying and disturbing revelations. Much like Docile, this book will not be for everyone. A lot of people will not like it because it doesn't shy away from darker things. But I never got the sense that KM Szpara is writing about these things to glorify them or make you invested in the relationships. He's not writing it just for the sake of writing it. There is a purpose behind it, and by the end, I think you're supposed to be left feeling a little raw. You're supposed to recognize the faults behind it. KM Szpara has guaranteed that I will buy anything he writes next; he already did that with Docile, which left me reeling. I prefer that book over this one, but this one was still captivating, and I can't wait to see where Szpara will go with his next project.
This book is . . . weird. There are moments where you can't tell what's real and what's not. There are complex characters put in terrible situations, there are strange happenings, and there are horrifying and disturbing revelations. Much like Docile, this book will not be for everyone. A lot of people will not like it because it doesn't shy away from darker things. But I never got the sense that KM Szpara is writing about these things to glorify them or make you invested in the relationships. He's not writing it just for the sake of writing it. There is a purpose behind it, and by the end, I think you're supposed to be left feeling a little raw. You're supposed to recognize the faults behind it. KM Szpara has guaranteed that I will buy anything he writes next; he already did that with Docile, which left me reeling. I prefer that book over this one, but this one was still captivating, and I can't wait to see where Szpara will go with his next project.
Like others have said in their reviews, who exactly is this book written for? It’s definitely all over the place and trigger warning at the beginning is not a joke.
I wasn’t expecting to read this in one day, especially because the arc has been sitting on my netgalley shelf for almost a year. I can definitely see this book being a polarizing read, and I’d absolutely advise paying attention to the TWs. That being said there’s something really innocent about this book. About Lark and his loyalty, Cane and his ability to break free, and Calvin and his deep love.
But honestly? I don’t know how I feel about this book, so I’m just gonna let that be what it is.
But honestly? I don’t know how I feel about this book, so I’m just gonna let that be what it is.
A fascinating speculative fiction book unlike any other that delves deeply into questions of faith, consent, healing, and more. This is the first book I've read of Szpara's, and it's genuinely inventive at every turn, confronting fantasy tropes and imbuing them with queerness and non-traditional sexuality and romance. I read it in two days, and am excited to read more of Szpara's work. This won't be everyone's cup of tea (see the trigger warnings below), and it still feels a bit messy in some places, but overall a fine work by an upcoming talent.
Content warnings for:
Content warnings for:
Spoiler
abuse, assault, BDSM, dubious consent
It's a little muddled and the some questionable moments of blurry consent that made me uncomfy, but I think that was the point in some of those scenes. I enjoyed the arc of the story, and it made me want to read the author's other book, Docile.
this was as intense as docile but the pacing was incredibly sped up. i almost wanted a little bit more time to breath with the characters. if you like cults, magic and cosplay this one is fun but check the tw before reading
Well, meh. The main problem of this book were the many POV characters - too many for such a short book. It was the promise of a more in depth story, when, as many others pointed out, characters fell flat because they didn't have time to make an impression. It would have been enough if it was just Lark & Calvin, or even just Lark. Let the reader slowly discover that his POV is completely unreliable, his world-view more than fucked up. Since I am very much interested into stories about former cult members and cults in general, even the world building in this case barely existed on that front.
It was a very disappointing read, and despite enjoying fucked up (sexual) stories, this didn't do it for me. Which is a shame, because I really enjoyed Docile, despite its own short-comings.
It was a very disappointing read, and despite enjoying fucked up (sexual) stories, this didn't do it for me. Which is a shame, because I really enjoyed Docile, despite its own short-comings.