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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
American war was a gripping novel about the effects of radicalisation and the dangers of tribalism. The main character was believable and although at times I found myself getting frustrated at her decisions, I could see how she made them. I don't think that the main character was a bad person. I think that if anyone was put in her shoes, they may have been pushed into doing what she did.
I finished this book about a week ago and read through some of the negative reviews to get a sense of what didn't resonate for others. The biggest critique was that it seemed overly political/anti-American and that the setting was unbelievable.
I think those reviews may be fair, but they don't take away from the book. The anti-american theme was just that, A theme. Novels are allowed to explore political territories. You can argue if the author does a good job exploring this; I think it was explored adequately. The other theme of the setting being unbelievable is hard to think about, because it is science fiction. Could the American south stage another civil war over something like fuel? maybe they could if the right person dressed it up as an attack on liberty.
this book was a good and interesting read.
I finished this book about a week ago and read through some of the negative reviews to get a sense of what didn't resonate for others. The biggest critique was that it seemed overly political/anti-American and that the setting was unbelievable.
I think those reviews may be fair, but they don't take away from the book. The anti-american theme was just that, A theme. Novels are allowed to explore political territories. You can argue if the author does a good job exploring this; I think it was explored adequately. The other theme of the setting being unbelievable is hard to think about, because it is science fiction. Could the American south stage another civil war over something like fuel? maybe they could if the right person dressed it up as an attack on liberty.
this book was a good and interesting read.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Depressing, but not wrong.
None of the characters were likeable. The ending isn't happy or encouraging. But it was worth reading.
None of the characters were likeable. The ending isn't happy or encouraging. But it was worth reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, War
DNF at page 146.
This book was so boring, and why would I ever root for these people?
This book was so boring, and why would I ever root for these people?
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More like a 3.5. I wanted to like and rate the book more but the story is lacking a little for me. I am curious about the future the author has created but also perfectly fine just shelving this book again and not re-exploring this world.
Well written with lots of great ideas and well developed characters but it didn't quite hang together for me.
This book is packed densely with a rich, detailed world that feels scary, depressing and somehow very real. It addresses the questions "What is the purpose of revenge?" and "Is revenge always worth the effort?" I liked the story overall but at times it droned on and I lost focus. The timeline took massive jumps that jarred my attention but I remained intrigued by the amount of detail that the author imagined and brought to life.
The telling of the fictional second civil war. Most likely a take told to relate the opposing side in the current US conflicts to an American reader - how people are recruited into opposing groups, how they want to live, and how terrorists are formed. An interesting read, but ultimately somewhat tedious. The pacing was slow and the characters fairly boring.