Scan barcode
juniperb23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
emmagiverny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Racism, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
historicalmaterialgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
But it felt like the plot was a little bit all over the place? I was confused what was going on often, I felt like I was missing something and that's on me to a degree, but I see many other people felt the same way.
Regardless I want to read all of River Solomon's other books now!!
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
alexashabit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Blood, Abortion, Murder, and Classism
thequeerbibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual violence
Moderate: Slavery and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
booksjessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I will admit that it took me about 2-3 chapters to fully get going. I listened to the audiobook and I also felt like whilst I was listening in the first couple of chapters, I did miss key details about the world-building, but just continued listening. I felt like as I went through the story, this didn't matter too much and I thought I had a good grip of the world by the middle of the book. I have bought a physical copy so that next time I read, I read the print copy to annotate those extra details.
Genuinely, the conjunction between structural racism and generational ships in Matilda was my favourite part about the whole thing and thought the crafting of this world was done extremely well. I saw some 'critics reviews' that said the 'many layers of metaphor' and 'worldbuilding by poetry' disappointed readers that wanted hard science fiction, but this is what I loved most. The poetic language only heightened the worldbuilding and reading between the lines made it all the more real for the reader. Although, I understand this is not to everyone's taste.
I am of the opinion of other reviews where the ending does feel slightly rushed and there were some things that could have been explored in some more depth for me, but I still really enjoyed the story anyway! I felt the pace really picks up about half way through, and that it was a very packed ending in the last few chapters.
It is very rare I want a book to be longer, but I wish it was so that there could be so many more things added. I thought the book was excellent as it was anyway, not just because of the worldbuilding, but the ending, for me, was unexpected. I just wish that themes could have been explored more. I just never really wanted the book to end.
I would recommend this book 100%! I think it was an amazing experience, especially listening to the audio as it just brought everything to life. Before reading though, please read the trigger warnings, as there are a lot of graphic triggers in this book.
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
terrestrial_river's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, and Abortion
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Abortion
littletooey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
necromandy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Blood, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Classism