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finley's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Transphobia
denimbaobab's review against another edition
5.0
I felt known from the first page of this novel. Thank you. More queerness, more hope, more otherness.
eloise_bradbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a joy to read.
The plot was interesting and developped quite well, but the heart of this story is the characters.
They are all so loveable in their own way. All different, all flawed in some way but well rounded enough that you can't help but feel part of their family. They all love each other and want to protect each other and that is so beautiful.
It was also great to see an asexual dragon-scale-skinned guy filled with anxiety as the main character, along side a brilliant cast of polyamorous married women who love each other and their child to bits, with agender and transgender rep too. These representations aren't forced or explained to the other characters, they just ARE. Many of the characters are disabled in a certain way but all heroes nonetheless.
I got a little confused at times reading it because there isn"t one POV per chapter - it's an all-seeing type of narration where one phrase could be one character's feelings and the phrase after is another's. Sometimes my mind struggled to juggle that, but that is one tiny detail in the grand scheme of things.
I am one of those readers who seems to be more interested in the characters than world-building or plot. So based on that, I enjoyed it so much, and can't wait to get book 2.
The plot was interesting and developped quite well, but the heart of this story is the characters.
They are all so loveable in their own way. All different, all flawed in some way but well rounded enough that you can't help but feel part of their family. They all love each other and want to protect each other and that is so beautiful.
It was also great to see an asexual dragon-scale-skinned guy filled with anxiety as the main character, along side a brilliant cast of polyamorous married women who love each other and their child to bits, with agender and transgender rep too. These representations aren't forced or explained to the other characters, they just ARE. Many of the characters are disabled in a certain way but all heroes nonetheless.
I got a little confused at times reading it because there isn"t one POV per chapter - it's an all-seeing type of narration where one phrase could be one character's feelings and the phrase after is another's. Sometimes my mind struggled to juggle that, but that is one tiny detail in the grand scheme of things.
I am one of those readers who seems to be more interested in the characters than world-building or plot. So based on that, I enjoyed it so much, and can't wait to get book 2.
felicitybennett's review against another edition
3.0
I got this book for free in a bundle. I thought the plot was good and the world was interesting, at times I had double to check the year the book was written because of some of dystopian world-building was a little to close to certain world events in 2020. And for better or worse, reminding me of the present marks a good dystopian sci-fi for me. The plot failed in the regard that the pacing was really slow in the beginning and I was constantly confused until about a third in. I almost gave up a few times but was glad I didn't.
The characters were diverse which was great, some were more memorable than others. Some show up for 5 seconds, seem important, then you never find out anything about them. But I guess that's what book 2 is for. Others were really cool and I loved their emotional arc.
The biggest problem for me was the dialogue. I get being positive but every conversation was either "Everything is going to be okay" (the last thing you want to hear when you're upset) or "Remember to Breathe", which is fine but it was really repetitive with how many conversations went the same way. I think what bothered me about it was that the characters would speak like a mental health app chatbot.
Overall: It was good, it ended on a cliffhanger but I'm passing on the second book.
The characters were diverse which was great, some were more memorable than others. Some show up for 5 seconds, seem important, then you never find out anything about them. But I guess that's what book 2 is for. Others were really cool and I loved their emotional arc.
The biggest problem for me was the dialogue. I get being positive but every conversation was either "Everything is going to be okay" (the last thing you want to hear when you're upset) or "Remember to Breathe", which is fine but it was really repetitive with how many conversations went the same way. I think what bothered me about it was that the characters would speak like a mental health app chatbot.
Overall: It was good, it ended on a cliffhanger but I'm passing on the second book.
sanamun's review against another edition
5.0
Dystopian superhero polyamory.
I love how hopeful this book is, the themes of redemption and choices and chosen family. I also love the diversity, the worldbuilding, and the characters. It's just really good.
I love how hopeful this book is, the themes of redemption and choices and chosen family. I also love the diversity, the worldbuilding, and the characters. It's just really good.
sciencefair200's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could give this book ten stars. No, twenty.
Please. Do yourself a favour. Read this book. It's the most hopeful dystopia you'll ever find yourself in.
Please. Do yourself a favour. Read this book. It's the most hopeful dystopia you'll ever find yourself in.
doseogwan's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
friendofhayley's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.75