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bethantg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Gore
markguitar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
First, I hate the AI generated description and topic list that is listed in Storygraph. It gives away too much. I'd have rather said that two adversaries from rival factions are fighting a time war in which each must go back in time to undo the advances of their rivals. That's the basic plot. To say that they fall in love is to say too much, I think...even though that's really what the book is about. Also, to say that it is LGBTQ themed is really misleading. Yes, the main characters are women who fall in love, which makes it "LGBTQ friendly," but gender is pretty much irrelevant in this book. These characters don't even take on the same physical form from one assignment to the next. This book is romantic, but not in the least bit steamy, sexual, or physical in the least. It is gory and violent, though.
I wasn't sure how to rate this book. 3? 4? Beautifully written. If you like poetry, it's great. I do, but in this book, sometimes the language interferes with the story. It's sometimes hard to figure out what's going on and why. It requires some thought and concentration, which I usually appreciate. In this case, I felt like I had to interpret the poetry as I was reading the story just to understand what some of the imagery was telling me about the characters and the plot. If I'm into poetry, I'll seek it out. When I'm reading sci-fi, I'm looking for something different and this wasn't really it for me. I'm not much into love stories and this is more love story than sci-fi, even though it's loaded with more sci-fi elements than nearly any sci-fi book you'll ever read. To me, the love letters were a bit long and indulgent, which caused an otherwise very short book to drag. However, the end of the book nearly brought me to tears with a real emotional payoff. Thus, I didn't really enjoy the journey, but I appreciated it when I reached the destination.
I wasn't sure how to rate this book. 3? 4? Beautifully written. If you like poetry, it's great. I do, but in this book, sometimes the language interferes with the story. It's sometimes hard to figure out what's going on and why. It requires some thought and concentration, which I usually appreciate. In this case, I felt like I had to interpret the poetry as I was reading the story just to understand what some of the imagery was telling me about the characters and the plot. If I'm into poetry, I'll seek it out. When I'm reading sci-fi, I'm looking for something different and this wasn't really it for me. I'm not much into love stories and this is more love story than sci-fi, even though it's loaded with more sci-fi elements than nearly any sci-fi book you'll ever read. To me, the love letters were a bit long and indulgent, which caused an otherwise very short book to drag. However, the end of the book nearly brought me to tears with a real emotional payoff. Thus, I didn't really enjoy the journey, but I appreciated it when I reached the destination.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Gore
woodglimm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
i thought i would love this more, since it was praised so much. you get thrown right into the story without much explanation which made it a little hard for me to get into it. the second half got way better tho, it somehow caught me and i found joy in it (after a long break about 60 pages in lol).
worth a read, even though probably not the easiest? also, it's only 200 pages ;)
worth a read, even though probably not the easiest? also, it's only 200 pages ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Blood, Body horror, and Gore
amandam71's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very slow start but really great pacing toward the end! The writing was beautiful & flowery, but hard to understand at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and War
justmys's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Murder, Death, Grief, Vomit, Blood, War, Genocide, and Gore
jasperchandler01's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
hirsute's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I think the book is really well written, and technically it's a fantastic work. I enjoyed it enough to finish it, and am glad I did, but probably will not read it again.
I started the book listening to an audiobook version, and that way did not work for me. Because of the nature of the work, there are enough times where I did not have context to help me understand something that was said that I was left confused, frustrated, and feeling disconnected from the story. I think this is largely because in audiobook format, it's not easy to pause and review those parts and then resume. I wasn't able to reconnect well after those moments in the audiobook.
Reading it in print made it far easier for me to move at the pace I needed to move to really stay connected with the story, and I went from being frustated with my own indifference to the book to really enjoying it.
I started the book listening to an audiobook version, and that way did not work for me. Because of the nature of the work, there are enough times where I did not have context to help me understand something that was said that I was left confused, frustrated, and feeling disconnected from the story. I think this is largely because in audiobook format, it's not easy to pause and review those parts and then resume. I wasn't able to reconnect well after those moments in the audiobook.
Reading it in print made it far easier for me to move at the pace I needed to move to really stay connected with the story, and I went from being frustated with my own indifference to the book to really enjoying it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, War, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Gore and Suicide
caffeinatedfae's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief and Gore
jen3699's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I loved it and I'm recommending it. It's short but a masterpiece. Every minute of this is used to create this beautiful love story. I love it.
The end is my favourite. It's crafted so beautifully and with such dedication.
The idea of a love that you take into your being so literally, unconsciously and consciously. The type of love that consumes you and remakes you into something new for you and your partner. Beautiful.
The end is my favourite. It's crafted so beautifully and with such dedication.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Death, Gore, Violence, Genocide, and War
Minor: Grief, Miscarriage, Animal death, Infertility, and Abortion
monstrouscosmos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
Characters: 10/10
Relationships: 10/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 9.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 9.5/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Overall: 68/70, 5*
I love epistolary novels, quantum time travel plots, and messy star crossed sapphic romances, so I figured from the get that I'd be really into this. and I was! I especially loved the ways the characters spoke with one another across timelines, and gave context for themselves as individuals, within their respective collective experiences, and within their shared relationship over time(s). the writing about writing was also really fun! there are definitely moments that delve into disturbing themes and events, but for the most part I found the tone stayed hopeful in belief for better circumstances.
it's definitely something I need to relisten to (I feel like I missed a lot in my first run thru due to the narrative bouncing around quite a lot), but I'm so excited to revisit it!
Relationships: 10/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 9.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 9.5/10
Internal Logic: 10/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Overall: 68/70, 5*
I love epistolary novels, quantum time travel plots, and messy star crossed sapphic romances, so I figured from the get that I'd be really into this. and I was! I especially loved the ways the characters spoke with one another across timelines, and gave context for themselves as individuals, within their respective collective experiences, and within their shared relationship over time(s). the writing about writing was also really fun! there are definitely moments that delve into disturbing themes and events, but for the most part I found the tone stayed hopeful in belief for better circumstances.
it's definitely something I need to relisten to (I feel like I missed a lot in my first run thru due to the narrative bouncing around quite a lot), but I'm so excited to revisit it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Medical trauma, Torture, Abandonment, Colonisation, Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, and Stalking
Minor: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Cursing
Graphic: spiders