Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - Himmel und Hölle

(READ as a recommendation from a Friend)
I think the last 200 pages were written first because of the quality of the writing.

The premise of this book is SOOO interesting and the world SOO intriguing, but the author does little to even scratch the surface of this iceberg and decides instead to focus on the melodrama and break neck, choke-full plot twists.

The characters were TOO young! The thoughts and series of events that the author needed a certain age to process causes a disconnect between their age (13 and 14/15) and their voice. The author put them through So much and the impossibility that these children handle something that would even cause adults multiple breakdowns; they were more than in over their heads with the MULTIPLE conflicts they faced in one lifetime. It also felt a little rushed as the ramifications and significance of certain events weren’t allowed to sink in or explored.

The character changes gave me a WHIPLASH!! One moment Magaret is hopeful for change and the next she’s spiteful. Minerva is horrid and written as a villain for the entire book and not in a way where we could relate.
And I really felt like there were there only to advance the story. Exhibit A: Lynette

I don’t know if it was just me but I found it really difficult to read in Callum’s perspective. He goes back and forth through a lot of emotions and is not only unsure what he wants but doesn’t have a fixed identity. (I appreciate how he was written as he was going through A LOT, however, his emotions would take sudden quantum leaps.)

I didn’t feel any connection to the characters.

To the point where I wasn’t invested in Mr. McGregor’s trial or Lynette’s suicide.

The characters were never really given good motive and that made them feel one dimensional.

I find it really hard to believe that Callum falls in love with Sephy simply for the reason that they grew up together…because she acts like a child (ofcourse) a majority of the book!

Like, only Mr.Hadley remains in character.

Perhaps because of Sephy’s age, but fir a lot of the book -except when convenient- Sephy is not able to get even a fraction if the stuff Callum is going through (maybe this was done on purpose) but that was frustrating.

This is supposed to be a reality where Africa colonises, however, for a large portion of the story (descriptions, religion, clothes, food, buildings, government etc.) has a very Western glasses over it… This disappointed me the most. Some concepts or things (like hanging) were included but not explored or explained and may have gone unnoticed to the inexperienced.

Though it is once implied that Crosses are as violent as Noughts - Callum’s thoughts on discrimination in court rulings-, we only read them committing justice system crimes/ mundane harassment/ segregation etc. while Noughts LITERALLY bombed A Mall! I don’t know if the author did this subconsciously or on purpose…

A nice quote
“And the fear I felt then was like a moment spent dying.”

Content Warnings

lethukhanyile's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Content Warnings

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