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bedtimesnack's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gun violence, and Cancer
jiaojiao'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
3.0
Like Annihilation, Authority switches between present events and an intensely introspective look at select events from the character’s past. Unlike Annihilation, these events don’t seem to relate directly to the mystery of Area X; instead, they seem to exist primarily to provide insight into John’s character and motivations. Worse, the frequent narrative switch to his past interrupted any sense of eeriness/creepiness that the present events were struggling to maintain.
It became clear halfway through the novel that VanderMeer had no intentions of solving the mystery of Area X in Authority. I thought VanderMeer had done an amazing job of setting the scene and mood in Annihilation; Authority felt like a diversion from both that was unnecessarily long while contributing very little to the story.
Aside from that issue, I didn’t like John as a character at all, and I struggled a lot with connecting with him. That could definitely have influenced how much I like (or dislike) Authority as a novel.
My rating system:
★☆☆☆☆ - DNF.
★★☆☆☆ - I really wish I’d read something else.
★★★☆☆ - Glad I finished, but I’m probably not re-reading this.
★★★★☆ - I really enjoyed reading this! Would probably rec/re-read.
★★★★★ - OMG.
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Confinement
scifi_rat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Gore, Racism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Body horror, Cursing, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Violence
moonytoast's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
all that being said: i think the dynamic between control and the biologist was really interesting as the story played out and i liked where authority picked up from its predecessor by revealing that "versions" of the expedition members (including the biologist) have returned to the outside world, throwing the reader off given the ending of annihilation. there's an understanding of the fact that this is not the same biologist we knew and experienced in the first book, but we as the reader don't fully understand how much they remember and understand what happened in area x. that element as well as the revelation of certain things about the psychologist on the previous expedition were intriguing.
***this rating may change once i have officially finished this series
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
corriejn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.25
Moderate: Confinement
madarauchiha's review
- 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
Ah. I accidentally read this after reading the third and final book. Well. I'd have to say it's kinda maybe the weakest in the series. Not that it's poorly written, just that maybe it doesn't need to exist, per se. It does feel like backstory for the third and final book, but then again you could vice versa that sentiment.
While Annihilation takes place inside Area X, Authority preexists just outside, after the first books expedition. The bureaucratic side isn't any less chaotic and suffocating. You'll want answers, and you will want.
Can you expect anything different?
content warnings:
minor ableism towards people who use drugs, alcohol use, animal death, animal death, arson, blood, child abuse, fire, gore, hate crime, homophobia, parental death, smoking tobacco, vomit / emetophobia
medium alcohol use, animal death, cancer, death, drowning, gore, religion christianity?, self harm?
major body horror, death, gun violence, guns, murder, unreality, violence
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Self harm, Mental illness, Gore, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gun violence, Alcoholism, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, Animal death, and Vomit
adalgibson's review
4.0
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Animal cruelty