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culpeppper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
- The metaphors were immense, sometimes clever and sometimes a little too on the nose, but largely the use of weaving those metaphors into the story was done well and enhanced the reading experience. As an example, the descriptions in the underwater mimic the setting, relying on feelings and ideas to form the world before Yetu goes to the surface where descriptions change to more solid things rather than concepts.
- The story has multiple perspectives. Though I do feel it worked thematically to have these other perspectives, and the stories they told enhanced our perspective, but it was always jarring and confusing in a way that took me a bit out of the story sometimes.
- It's a work of creative wonder, filled with countless concepts, and it's inspired me to read more of Solomon's work so I can have a longer experience that I think will suit their style of writing better.
Overall, there were some things it lacked that could have built out the world a bit more, and the pacing felt weird and off at times, I think that's partially the form and maybe some stylistic elements I don't fully understand. But I liked the experience of this world, of this look into our world, and the use of history and remembering as critical to it. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Genocide, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Grief, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Xenophobia, Colonisation, Animal death, and Confinement
Minor: War, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
building_a_bookdom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Grief, Mental illness, Slavery, Blood, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, and Abandonment
Moderate: Pregnancy, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Child death, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, Colonisation, and Death of parent
nojerama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Colonisation, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death of parent, Deportation, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Gore, Murder, Racism, Violence, and War
starcasita'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Suicide attempt, Death, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Grief, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Child death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Body horror
Minor: Animal death
maddiebusick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Slavery, Racism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Medical content, Gun violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Miscarriage, and War
rhyanashah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This story covers the concept of personal growth, independant sacrifice for group benefit, strengthening community, and
generational healing.
The potential for more stories within this universe (as clipping./Daveed Diggs says at the end of the audiobook) is strong, and the only reason it's not a 4.5/5 is because I don't see myself going back to it multiple times. I really appreciate Rivers' writing style and will be seeking out other works of theirs.
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Abandonment, and Slavery
Moderate: Miscarriage, Confinement, War, Genocide, and Pregnancy
shieldbearer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Trafficking, Child death, Child abuse, and Slavery
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Blood, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
toffishay'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Confinement and Slavery
Minor: Colonisation, Death, and Genocide
samara's review against another edition
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Genocide, Grief, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: War and Vomit