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kailanlovescats's review against another edition
The ick was immediate lol. Too bad, the plot and other characters sounded intriguing.
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, and Trafficking
Minor: Suicide, Violence, and Vomit
sierrabowers'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? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
emelye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Suicide, Vomit, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
brekaboujie'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? Yes
2.0
First off, the characterisation was bizarre. Ha was a very odd choice for a main character, as I never felt like I actually knew her. She's a scientist, but I'm still not 100% sure I understand anything about her studies other than she likes fish and studies communication and went to Oxford and Cambridge. There is this whole plot line about her falling madly in love with this dude who never paid any attention to her, and it made her go "crazy" and gave her Super Depression that she describes as looking up at the sun and being able to stare at it because nothing was bright anymore. Edgy. Then it turns out (mild spoiler but this didnt mean anything to me when it was revealed even though i think it was meant to)
This book was also the ultimate lesson in telling not showing, and it was arguably the worst part. Everytime we were introduced to a new idea or feeling, a character would then explain it to us, or the narrator would tell us exactly what was going on. I wasn't able to form any of my own opinions because I had this constant voice mansplaining every tiny detail to me. The narration had no clear voice either, and often we'd skip descriptions all together and just have pages of dialogue or huge monologues from single characters. We'd also have whole sentences or paragraphs just... repeated later on. There is a scene with Evrim where Ha describes him as sexless and god-like and then we just get that description again near the end. Ha's weird trauma from the island is described to us by the narrator and then she repeats it again to Evrim. Dude, everything you write should be for the reader - WHY do you share this now? What has changed since last time? (spoilers, nothing, I think he just wanted to emphasise a dramatic piece of writing). All very annoying.
Rustem. Where did my boy Rustem go. I liked his storyline, it was interesting and intriguing and because it wasn't the main one I felt like I had more freedom to think and use my brain to try and work out what was going on. But
Also side point. Why was there so much nakedness. My guy my dude my man, stop putting Altantsetseg in the goo totally nude. Why is she naked. Why is she in goo. Stop it man, free her.
And finally. The end. I'm not even gonna put this in spoilers so just stop reading this if you really wanna read this book I guess but honestly..... NOTHING HAPPENS.
What the hell was that "plot twist" with Altantsetseg??????? I legit almost missed it it went so quickly. No lead up, no oh wow yeah that all lead to this! moment. Nothing. Also what happened with the octopuses????? Why was Ha a weird chosen one? Why kill off the doctor lady and not make her a giant evil woman who was in this all for a whole other plan all along??? She was just an idiot!!!!! That's the whole plot!!!!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED???????
So yes. That's that I guess, sorry Ray please don't read this review lol but also please get a better publisher/editor because the idea had so much promise and they just let you wiggle along your plot until you'd rinsed it dry and then let you just slap a plaster on it and call it an ending. Oh man.
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
boglord's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Deportation
Minor: Confinement, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Death of parent
maggiemac23'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Blood, Vomit, and Religious bigotry
maecave15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Kidnapping