You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think this book could have been amazing -- the plot was interesting, once I understood all of the "rules of the land", and it kept me wanting to know more and read further. However, it felt like the story didn't start *happening* until I was 2/3 of the way finished, and then it all went by in the blink of an eye. It's definitely an EK Johnston book - I like her, but she has a very definitive style!
this isnt queer - id argue not even implied to be, i kept waiting for it to get queer and was disappointed
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had almost no intrigue while reading this because I didn’t really have space in the book to process or connect with anything, and the audiobook ambiance was definitely not helpful in keeping my attention, but I did enjoy this a little. Sadly, I already can’t really remember what I enjoyed. Probably had something to do with the magic, definitely didn’t have anything to do with the world building.
* I entirely missed who was queer. It was Fisher, so I guess that’s what the emphasis on needing a Y chromosome was about… I was thinking it was about the baby. Oof. I would say “maybe it was me and I checked out for a bit,” but it was just subtle as Hell. I’m not bothered either way. It’s just that when I was putting this book back on my shelf, I was wondering why I thought it was an LGBT book, so I had to look it up AND IT TOOK SOME DIGGING.
* Definitely not material for a YA - especially with all this focus on pregnancy?
* So uncomfortably fast paced. Time didn't move fluently; rather, I wish we spent time learning about Pendt, Fisher, and Ned outside of their singular goals because they feel like hallow characters and it doesn't help that we only see them when they're ready to do something to aggressively progress the plot. More subtle things placed to progress the plot would have been appreciated.
* Didn't need the info dumps/stories at the beginning of each part.
* The relationship/s didn’t work for me at all… likely on account of the pacing, but I wasn’t feeling the love, just the respect and care.
* Some people complained about her going from being owned by one person to being owned by another… no she didn’t? They specifically drew up the contract so she wouldn’t be owned by them. Plus, it seems that everyone was “owned” by someone in this world.
* People are also uncomfortable with her being impregnated my Ned, but in life with Fisher… I think it’s fine. I kind of thought of it like when a sibling helps a couple get pregnant through artificial insemination because of a fertility issue. (Even though the baby was more of a responsibility than a desire… so that keeps it nice and icky).
* * CH19… thinking about his brother, who she's pregnant by, while kissing him T-T.
* On comparing about the extra stories at the beginning of each part: page 178 was nice for an extra story, i guess.
* How is she just finding out at the end of ch21 that her family was going to use her as a baby farm to sell the babies? I thought this was clear from the time she watched the insemination.
* Page 213: "he might have done murder."I would have used “committed,” but okay lol.
* … I guess i like chapter 22… and pages 222-223.
* I entirely missed who was queer.
* Definitely not material for a YA - especially with all this focus on pregnancy?
* So uncomfortably fast paced. Time didn't move fluently; rather, I wish we spent time learning about Pendt, Fisher, and Ned outside of their singular goals because they feel like hallow characters and it doesn't help that we only see them when they're ready to do something to aggressively progress the plot. More subtle things placed to progress the plot would have been appreciated.
* Didn't need the info dumps/stories at the beginning of each part.
* The relationship/s didn’t work for me at all… likely on account of the pacing, but I wasn’t feeling the love, just the respect and care.
Spoiler
* Some people complained about her going from being owned by one person to being owned by another… no she didn’t? They specifically drew up the contract so she wouldn’t be owned by them. Plus, it seems that everyone was “owned” by someone in this world.
* People are also uncomfortable with her being impregnated my Ned, but in life with Fisher… I think it’s fine. I kind of thought of it like when a sibling helps a couple get pregnant through artificial insemination because of a fertility issue. (Even though the baby was more of a responsibility than a desire… so that keeps it nice and icky).
* * CH19… thinking about his brother, who she's pregnant by, while kissing him T-T.
* On comparing about the extra stories at the beginning of each part: page 178 was nice for an extra story, i guess.
* How is she just finding out at the end of ch21 that her family was going to use her as a baby farm to sell the babies? I thought this was clear from the time she watched the insemination.
* Page 213: "he might have done murder."I would have used “committed,” but okay lol.
* … I guess i like chapter 22… and pages 222-223.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-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
This book had a lot going for it. Great world building, but like, horrifying at the same time. I loved the main characters, and absolutely hated the people I was supposed to hate. I just think it somehow had too much going on, and not enough at the same time? But I still really enjoyed it, especially the second half. My biggest gripe is that the "resolution" with Pendt's family felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic. But maybe I'm just biased because i wanted her to stand up to them more directly and tell them off, and she chose an indirect way instead. Which was valid and probably safer, but ugh.
Anyway I really wished this had a sequel and it turns out it does! Or will... it's not out yet, sigh.
Anyway I really wished this had a sequel and it turns out it does! Or will... it's not out yet, sigh.