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btlitell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The biggest reason for this being a 4-star instead of 5 is the very graphically detailed sex scenes that not only seemed gratuitous but also too "technical" or "textbook" in their nature. Not really interested in that, but it's definitely better than if those scenes were filled with horrible and cliche euphemisms (or worse new attempts at euphemisms that are just ick lol). This is absolutely a me thing and not really anything against the writing or the story itself.
I am looking forward to eventually reading books 2 and 3 as well as watching the show.
Graphic: Sexual content and Death
Minor: Colonisation, Trafficking, War, Self harm, Suicide, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ceeess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Gore, Murder, Police brutality, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Addiction
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture
voxvenati's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There isn’t exactly a specific content warning tag for this, but it’s going in spoilers for anyone who doesn’t want to know:
After all that, I did enjoy the rest of the book. The Netflix show deviated from the book in a lot of respects, but they’re both just as engaging, and I had a good time with both. The world building is phenomenal. I’m obsessed. I enjoyed the characters, especially Kovacs. The plot was solid. I found myself thinking about this book almost constantly when I wasn’t reading it. People hate on the sex scenes, but I found them better written than most of the romance and erotica I’ve read this year.
The most fascinating thing in the book is, of course, the altered carbon. The way Morgan discusses the implications of such a technology - how resleeving affects people psychologically, how the government takes advantage of it, what happens when you can’t afford to bring a loved one back, how organized religion would react to this, how class disparities become so great that the 1% virtually become gods. Really good shit. Chef kiss.
Even so, there were a few negatives for me. First, the above spoiler/content warning was really unexpected. It made its point but the amount of time spent on it hurt me. Second, I’m not sure how I feel about the treatment of sex work in this world. Takeshi seems neutral toward it, but Ortega makes several disparaging comments about the “whorehouses” and people working there. Last, the treatment of the Sharya culture and peoples was distasteful at times.
This book certainly has its issues, but the writing, characters, concepts, and plot really made up for it in my opinion. If none of the content warnings are a dealbreaker, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect it to be the Netflix show.
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Excrement, and Violence
catsy2022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Alcoholism, Body horror, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Police brutality
Minor: War, Abortion, and Child death
fahyhallowell's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Torture, Drug use, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, War, and Animal death
mccluskyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
mar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Police brutality, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Child abuse
violence against sex workers in particular is a major recurring theme in the bookabby_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Drug abuse, Death, Cursing, Death of parent, Blood, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual violence
kerttuli's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Gun violence
Moderate: Child death, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol