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addydeejreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence
2treads's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I am a Premee fan. This is my 3rd read of hers and I am just always intrigued by the aay she crafts her stories. She tends to write in a shorter form and I think that works for her. It intensifies the story and how her readers engage with the themes and topics she explores.
In a futuristic, yet dystopic world, where no surprise, wealth grants supreme power and immunity, a courtesan is granted her wish to punish the ones who used and broke her. The world surrounding our characters isn't fleshed out wholly in the narrative, but enough detail is given for the reader to be fine moving from lace to place.
What is important is each character, although told from the perspective of Jewel, her connection to Win and Nero is sufficient for is to be able to understand their friendship.and position in the House where they work. I could feel the disdain and contempt held for those who are sex workers, the power that the clients so carelessly world over them, as if they are no longer of value because credits have been exchanged to indulge in their bodies and other talents.
Mohamed does a great job of presenting a story that is quite familiar in tone and place, giving us a character who has through her death taken back her power, is seeking vengeance, and freedom for those like her, who are scorned and abused; to the narrator who although aware of where and what her station garners her, still wants some semblance of safety in the familiar, who understands the hierarchy of the world, but believes she has no influence to enact change.
A lot is done in so little a package.
In a futuristic, yet dystopic world, where no surprise, wealth grants supreme power and immunity, a courtesan is granted her wish to punish the ones who used and broke her. The world surrounding our characters isn't fleshed out wholly in the narrative, but enough detail is given for the reader to be fine moving from lace to place.
What is important is each character, although told from the perspective of Jewel, her connection to Win and Nero is sufficient for is to be able to understand their friendship.and position in the House where they work. I could feel the disdain and contempt held for those who are sex workers, the power that the clients so carelessly world over them, as if they are no longer of value because credits have been exchanged to indulge in their bodies and other talents.
Mohamed does a great job of presenting a story that is quite familiar in tone and place, giving us a character who has through her death taken back her power, is seeking vengeance, and freedom for those like her, who are scorned and abused; to the narrator who although aware of where and what her station garners her, still wants some semblance of safety in the familiar, who understands the hierarchy of the world, but believes she has no influence to enact change.
A lot is done in so little a package.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Blood and Body horror
leguinstan's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was excited to read this after finding out that it won the 2021 Nebula Award for Best Novella, but I'm sad to say that And What Can We Offer You Tonight left me feeling cold. I just think that the author was trying to cover too much in a short page count. Even after finishing the story, I do not feel like I have a good understanding of the book's dystopian setting or its characters. I barely got to know the characters and as a result I didn't feel particularly attached to them. And while this is partially a matter of personal taste, I did not jive at all with the prose--somehow it feels simultaneously lush and disjointed. It really hampered my ability to fully immerse myself in the story.
While it's nice to see an indie press shake up Tor's domination of the SFF novella market, I don't think this is up to par with the other Nebula-winning novellas I have previously read.
While it's nice to see an indie press shake up Tor's domination of the SFF novella market, I don't think this is up to par with the other Nebula-winning novellas I have previously read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual violence
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a bit of an odd story. It's set in a dystopian world where (it seems) the water has risen but also gotten contaminated, and lots of animals have mutated. (Though we see very little of that.) The main noticeable change is that society is even more money-focused than it is now, and the laws have changed so that only those with money get any kind of justice.
The main premise of a murdered courtesan coming back to life to take revenge on her murderer has probably been done before; in this particular case our narrator is not the dead girl herself, but one of her friends. The question of how she comes back to life is never answered, nor is it clear if or when she will ever die again. Instead, the focus of the story is what "morality" means in this society where money is literally everything, where those without money or jobs can be killed in a "cull" without any other reason at all.
While I liked the way this was told (a kind of blend of dialogue and almost stream-of-consciousness monologue) it took a little while for me to figure out much about the characters. I'm still not sure what most of them looked like... but that's okay. Other than some obvious parts—like one character who has wing implants, or the dead girl's skin being white and bloodless—it doesn't really matter what these characters look like.
This would probably not be a book for everyone; some people won't be able to get into the writing style, or will want more answers than this book provides. It's a neat story, however, and it's a nice change to see a narrator who isn't the brave hero but instead is someone who's just trying to find a way to get by.
The main premise of a murdered courtesan coming back to life to take revenge on her murderer has probably been done before; in this particular case our narrator is not the dead girl herself, but one of her friends. The question of how she comes back to life is never answered, nor is it clear if or when she will ever die again. Instead, the focus of the story is what "morality" means in this society where money is literally everything, where those without money or jobs can be killed in a "cull" without any other reason at all.
While I liked the way this was told (a kind of blend of dialogue and almost stream-of-consciousness monologue) it took a little while for me to figure out much about the characters. I'm still not sure what most of them looked like... but that's okay. Other than some obvious parts—like one character who has wing implants, or the dead girl's skin being white and bloodless—it doesn't really matter what these characters look like.
This would probably not be a book for everyone; some people won't be able to get into the writing style, or will want more answers than this book provides. It's a neat story, however, and it's a nice change to see a narrator who isn't the brave hero but instead is someone who's just trying to find a way to get by.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Physical abuse
Minor: Blood
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Slavery, Death, Murder, Classism, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Blood, and Grief
bookishyarn's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Sexual violence
Minor: Alcohol, Self harm, and Drug use
thelittlestmermaid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
* Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! *
I have never read a story like And What Can We Offer You Tonight. It was shorter than most books I read and it didn't dive very deep into character development or world building but it was still enjoyable.
The story opens with the main character Jewel, a courtesan, grieving the loss of her friend Winfield after she was murdered by a client. However, at the funeral Winfield comes back from the dead with the intent to get revenge for her own murder. Then Jewel has to decide whether or not to keep herself safe in a high-stakes world or help Winfield.
The setting is a world in the far future mostly destroyed by late stage capitalism. People are heavily modified with horns, wings, bionic breasts, and the like. If you're lucky enough to have a purpose and a job then you're safe but if not then you're at risk of being culled. Law no longer exists and those with money get away with whatever they want.
The cast of characters was very interesting. Jewel is a very passive main character and for most of the story is unable to make up her mind on anything she wants to do. The other two main characters were more interesting to me and yet we barely learn anything about either of them.
The stream of consciousness narration in the story is very dreamlike and poetic. There is some beautiful imagery, however at times it is hard to discern exactly what is happening. When Jewel's thoughts become confused or upset it becomes confusing to read.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and will likely end up purchasing a physical copy when it comes out. I do wish it were longer, if only to to understand the world and surrounding characters better. I think that this story will appeal to fans of the dystopian and science fiction genres.
3.5 Stars
I have never read a story like And What Can We Offer You Tonight. It was shorter than most books I read and it didn't dive very deep into character development or world building but it was still enjoyable.
The story opens with the main character Jewel, a courtesan, grieving the loss of her friend Winfield after she was murdered by a client. However, at the funeral Winfield comes back from the dead with the intent to get revenge for her own murder. Then Jewel has to decide whether or not to keep herself safe in a high-stakes world or help Winfield.
The setting is a world in the far future mostly destroyed by late stage capitalism. People are heavily modified with horns, wings, bionic breasts, and the like. If you're lucky enough to have a purpose and a job then you're safe but if not then you're at risk of being culled. Law no longer exists and those with money get away with whatever they want.
The cast of characters was very interesting. Jewel is a very passive main character and for most of the story is unable to make up her mind on anything she wants to do. The other two main characters were more interesting to me and yet we barely learn anything about either of them.
The stream of consciousness narration in the story is very dreamlike and poetic. There is some beautiful imagery, however at times it is hard to discern exactly what is happening. When Jewel's thoughts become confused or upset it becomes confusing to read.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and will likely end up purchasing a physical copy when it comes out. I do wish it were longer, if only to to understand the world and surrounding characters better. I think that this story will appeal to fans of the dystopian and science fiction genres.
3.5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
In this whirlwind of a novella, readers are welcomed into a House of courtesans in a dystopian future where the once sparkling Winfield has ruined her funeral by coming back from the dead. Murdered by a client, Win will use her second chance to become an antihero vigilante seeking vengeance. But actually, our protagonist is the practical, routine Jewel rather than the fiery Win. Jewel is both worried about and drawn to her friend Win's chaos, wanting justice for the many tragedies inflicted on the courtesans as a matter of course, while also fearing the loss of her livelihood.
I found the story to be a biting commentary on capitalism in this future world where society has collapsed but the increasingly stark differentiation between the rich and poor persists. I think Jewel's turmoil shows the internal struggle with revolutionary change-- a yearning for something better mixed in with a fear of lost safety and the dangers of a fight for survival. She's a sympathetic character and a worthy guide.
My only complaint with this one is the world-building. It's a quick read, and I think the author relies on the overwhelming similarities between our world and this possible future to skip explaining things about how it functions. While I was more than happy to skip an info-dump, I had to choose not to fixate on unfamiliar terms that came up as unnecessary distractions from the meat of the story. Once I started dismissing them rather than poking and prodding at them, I had a much better time of it.
I recommend this to readers seeking a fast, gritty dystopian story peopled by complex characters facing down the capitalist system that keeps them downtrodden.
Thanks to Neon Hemlock Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this gripping novella, out 7/20.
I found the story to be a biting commentary on capitalism in this future world where society has collapsed but the increasingly stark differentiation between the rich and poor persists. I think Jewel's turmoil shows the internal struggle with revolutionary change-- a yearning for something better mixed in with a fear of lost safety and the dangers of a fight for survival. She's a sympathetic character and a worthy guide.
My only complaint with this one is the world-building. It's a quick read, and I think the author relies on the overwhelming similarities between our world and this possible future to skip explaining things about how it functions. While I was more than happy to skip an info-dump, I had to choose not to fixate on unfamiliar terms that came up as unnecessary distractions from the meat of the story. Once I started dismissing them rather than poking and prodding at them, I had a much better time of it.
I recommend this to readers seeking a fast, gritty dystopian story peopled by complex characters facing down the capitalist system that keeps them downtrodden.
Thanks to Neon Hemlock Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this gripping novella, out 7/20.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
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