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tina94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Hate crime, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Rape, Vomit, and Violence
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Racism, Suicide, Murder, Medical content, and Abortion
Moderate: Gun violence
teo_rodas'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit
beckycarter97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, Torture, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Vomit
Minor: Suicide
fungivibes's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Homophobia, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Vomit
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Jokes aside, Solomon wrote a unique sci-fi that left me with much to think about. The setting was interesting, and their writing easy to read without being too simplistic. The main issue I had was with the pacing, as the beginning and end were good, but the middle lagged significantly. I also think the ending could’ve been explained more, though it was satisfying enough as it is.
I ended up quite liking Aster and Theo. It took me some time to warm up to them, but I did. They’re well-written, contrasting characters with a sweet associates to friends to lovers dynamic between them. This relationship is very much a slow-burn, and very much on the back burner. While I respect that, as the emphasis of this book isn’t meant to be romance, a part of me does wish we’d seen a bit more of them in a romantic way.
As I’m thinking more about the book, I’m realizing that, though it’s well-written, the narration was sometimes confusing. If I wasn’t paying close enough attention, it was easy to miss Aster slipping into a flashback. In those situations, I had to be especially attentive so I knew when she had returned to present time. The book gives little indicators at the start of each chapter narrated by a different character even though it only happens a few times, so it would’ve been easy enough to similarly indicate time jumps.
Ultimately, this was neither great nor awful. I’d recommend it, but likely only to specific people, as I don’t think it would be everyone’s cup of tea. Despite some enjoyable elements, I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea. I may or may not pick up more from Solomon in the future.
Representation
- autistic Black queer nonbinary protagonist
- Black side characters
- queer side characters (includes nonbinary, sapphic, and aromantic asexual rep)
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Body horror, Medical content, Homophobia, Transphobia, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Self harm, Pregnancy, and Abortion
bonusturniptwaddler's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Rape, Abortion, Police brutality, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Murder, Violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Gun violence
ehmannky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Also this isn't, like, smart or insightful like so many of the other reviews here but
TW: A lot of talk of suicide, suicide ideation, suicidal tendencies, etc. I feel like most people who get into the book like me are aware that it's going to incorporate slavery and get into the graphic and horrific slavery based on the real life horrors of America, but I do not know if I was aware of just how much suicide was in this book. As someone with a personal experience with loss from suicide, it wasn't enough to put me off, but it could be for others.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Slavery, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Grief, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia and Drug use
Minor: Pregnancy
megplant'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
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
hanarama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really loved the coding of Aster as neurodivergent. Solomon characterizes her as unwavering and immensely intelligent while also traits that read as neurodivergent. She stims as she navigates the ship, she fixated, and she has difficulty with metaphors. Solomon has real skill in creating characters that feel like complete people.
This is a really intense book. As would be expected of a sci-fi slave story, there aren't a lot of "happy" moments. Moments of respite maybe, but not really any truly happy moments and the book can feel pretty bleak at times. The plot is not as tightly written as it perhaps could have been at the end, but Solomon still makes powerful statements on systemic racism and acts of resistance.
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Abortion, Violence, Suicide, Sexual violence, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Body horror, Blood, and Ableism