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chelskee's review against another edition
This book needed some more rounds of editing. Typos, sudden shifts in narrative, and meta examination of the relationship between Obi and George that felt more like reading a tumblr analysis post of the relationship than the story OF the relationship. It needed more show and less tell.
Also, while some of the contents (i.e. details about the sexual nature of Obi and George's relationship) are certainly adult content the book is written in a very YA voice. The brushing over ofIyanda's brutal rape and torture at the hands of her captors leading to the abandonment of her first child felt awful, especially when she herself seemed to affirm that it gave her Asha so it is what it is. An incredibly important statement about the abuse of women's bodies in war and oppression boiled down to half a page of dismissive conversation.
There was also an issue with inconsistency. In Chapter Six it is stated that Obi's father left him at 8 years old. TWO PAGES LATER, we see something of a flashback about Obi with his father breaking into the museum at age 10 in which it is stated that "Six months later, his father was gone."
There is... one more issue that I'm nervous to even bring up. The reptilian overlords that took power through economic control to dominate other races was ringing some red flags for certain conspiracies. Given the authors young age, I'm going to hope that it was an issue of simply not knowing the associations.
I REALLY wanted to like it but I'm afraid this was just not for me at its current iteration. I may check back in with the author a few books down the line because I LOVE the creativity and the interesting ideas she's making.
Also, while some of the contents (i.e. details about the sexual nature of Obi and George's relationship) are certainly adult content the book is written in a very YA voice. The brushing over of
There was also an issue with inconsistency. In Chapter Six it is stated that Obi's father left him at 8 years old. TWO PAGES LATER, we see something of a flashback about Obi with his father breaking into the museum at age 10 in which it is stated that "Six months later, his father was gone."
There is... one more issue that I'm nervous to even bring up. The reptilian overlords that took power through economic control to dominate other races was ringing some red flags for certain conspiracies. Given the authors young age, I'm going to hope that it was an issue of simply not knowing the associations.
I REALLY wanted to like it but I'm afraid this was just not for me at its current iteration. I may check back in with the author a few books down the line because I LOVE the creativity and the interesting ideas she's making.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Police brutality, and Colonisation
Moderate: Abandonment, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse
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