Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this book, and hated it. Not in a derogatory sense, I love the characters, the writing, the pacing, the inclusivity, and representation, but God did I want to rip my skull out at some points. In a good way, especially when the body horror (dysphoria) began to kick in. The way White described the change as the Seraph proceeded further, the way Benji grew his teeth and claws is magnificent. But also, why could they not be happy? Not in the angry-at-author-or-story sense but more in the oh-the-world-really-sucks-doesnt-it way.
Anyway, brilliant and powerful. Not for the fainthearted, but definitely worth it.
Anyway, brilliant and powerful. Not for the fainthearted, but definitely worth it.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Books like this are important, not only to examine ideas surrounding religion and queer identity but to showcase how angry we are. This was an angry story and I loved that about it, we need more like it.
I really enjoyed reading about all of the characters in the story and appreciate how much thought was put into each one. This book took on a lot of ideas about queerness in our society and handled them very well. There was so much representation in every character, all of them had different ideas about religion, gender, sexuality, etc; but all shared the goal of surviving in a world where everything and everyone seemed to want them dead. We see the importance of solidarity in our community despite our differences. I also will give my appreciation for having an autistic character who falls outside of the way autistic people are often written. Not only is he viewed as competent and capable, but being the love interest and not having his autistic traits and behaviors be made fun of or viewed as a problem for the main character was really distinct from common portrayals in media.
The body horror in this book was well written, it's not often I find that sort of thing gross, but I was absolutely disgusted by the way the changes were described (this is a good thing, that being said if you don't like body horror this book may not be for you).
I really enjoyed reading about all of the characters in the story and appreciate how much thought was put into each one. This book took on a lot of ideas about queerness in our society and handled them very well. There was so much representation in every character, all of them had different ideas about religion, gender, sexuality, etc; but all shared the goal of surviving in a world where everything and everyone seemed to want them dead. We see the importance of solidarity in our community despite our differences. I also will give my appreciation for having an autistic character who falls outside of the way autistic people are often written. Not only is he viewed as competent and capable, but being the love interest and not having his autistic traits and behaviors be made fun of or viewed as a problem for the main character was really distinct from common portrayals in media.
The body horror in this book was well written, it's not often I find that sort of thing gross, but I was absolutely disgusted by the way the changes were described (this is a good thing, that being said if you don't like body horror this book may not be for you).
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mm yes trans body horror. Loved it.
Benji and Nicholas (and even Theo a bit) are all so well written and explored, it does come a bit at the expense of the Watch - like aside from Cormac, the asshole, I couldn't really tell any of the others apart in personality or tone or. anything really. just kind of a rush of names. Similarly I had a really hard time visualizing what was happening because the language is a bit repetitive with describing the graces, and seraph, and the general body horror. but those are quibbles, and the book is an exhilarating grab that i kept staying up too late reading because i HAD to.. well not see what happened next because i knew where it was going, but i wanted it to get there!!
honestly i'd give it 5 stars but for one aspect that completely took me out of the story: random essays on intracommunity lgbtqia fighting. like aside from it being wildly silly in a post apocalyptic hellscape for anyone to give a fuck if someone else binds when they are STARVING, benji's upbringing in evangelical hell makes it kind of unlikely that he would grasp onto any of that, much less use measured therapy speak to explain to the reader how it works. if he had been out before the end of the world or otherwise researched it maybe?? but it feels so stupid in an otherwise gritty horror survival story and really feels like it talks down to the reader. it would also have been a good way to expand on the Watch characters if they talked with Benji about it more, maybe explained??? idk that was one like. agh thing. otherwise benji is glorious and i love him. and this book.
Benji and Nicholas (and even Theo a bit) are all so well written and explored, it does come a bit at the expense of the Watch - like aside from Cormac, the asshole, I couldn't really tell any of the others apart in personality or tone or. anything really. just kind of a rush of names. Similarly I had a really hard time visualizing what was happening because the language is a bit repetitive with describing the graces, and seraph, and the general body horror. but those are quibbles, and the book is an exhilarating grab that i kept staying up too late reading because i HAD to.. well not see what happened next because i knew where it was going, but i wanted it to get there!!
honestly i'd give it 5 stars but for one aspect that completely took me out of the story: random essays on intracommunity lgbtqia fighting. like aside from it being wildly silly in a post apocalyptic hellscape for anyone to give a fuck if someone else binds when they are STARVING, benji's upbringing in evangelical hell makes it kind of unlikely that he would grasp onto any of that, much less use measured therapy speak to explain to the reader how it works. if he had been out before the end of the world or otherwise researched it maybe?? but it feels so stupid in an otherwise gritty horror survival story and really feels like it talks down to the reader. it would also have been a good way to expand on the Watch characters if they talked with Benji about it more, maybe explained??? idk that was one like. agh thing. otherwise benji is glorious and i love him. and this book.
gonna have to come back to this one at some point, just really not my kick rn :((
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
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