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tania_mybookishsecret's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Death, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Cursing
justamy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Classism, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Transphobia
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Grief, and Kidnapping
pastelwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m going to say it right now: I think this book should be used in schools. It is an enjoyable read while also encouraging the reader to think. It’s the perfect book to use in the classroom!
I’m honestly not surprised Lilliam Rivera delivered a thematically rich book. She did it in Never Look Back, and she was even more intentional about it in this book.
In this novel, women are in power in Mega City, but their control is at the cost of men. To stay in power, women are divided into gangs where they must fight to assert their dominance over the other gangs. Very clearly, the author is trying to discuss how a world ruled by women will not inherently be better than one ruled by men. This is especially accomplished through the Ashé Ryders. The lives of this group is entirely different. Everyone is appreciated and respected. No one is treated as better or worse than another. Everyone does their part.
Thus, in this novel we follow Nalah. Nalah has grown up in Mega City, and her journey to meet the Ashé Ryders makes her question everything she’s ever believed in. It makes her question her reliance on violence. It makes her doubt her desire for power and comfort while others suffer. It makes her question gender roles.
Therefore, the novel is very rich in character development. A central element of this story is Nalah’s character growth. Nevertheless, Nalah’s strong convictions lead to a lot of repetition in the novel. As I listened to the audiobook, I often felt like I was reading different variations of the same three sentences. This is especially the case because of Nalah’s black and white view of the world. She was very stubborn in letting go of her believes, and this meant that being in Nalah’s head sometimes felt redundant.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this! I appreciated the focus on Nalah’s world view being questioned. I also appreciated the side characters. Not all of them were fully fleshed out, but Truck and Miguel/Graciela were especially compelling. Both of these characters pushed Nalah in different ways. Truck pushed Nalah to be more open with what she felt and what she needed. Miguel/Graciela helped Nalah push beyond the gender binary. Honestly? The three of them made this book so worth the read.
Finally, I liked that this book ended with uncertainty. The characters knew where they were going, but we didn’t get to see them through it all. It made me sad, but it was a writing choice I understood and respected. There was hope in the end, and that’s what matters to me.
I’m honestly not surprised Lilliam Rivera delivered a thematically rich book. She did it in Never Look Back, and she was even more intentional about it in this book.
In this novel, women are in power in Mega City, but their control is at the cost of men. To stay in power, women are divided into gangs where they must fight to assert their dominance over the other gangs. Very clearly, the author is trying to discuss how a world ruled by women will not inherently be better than one ruled by men. This is especially accomplished through the Ashé Ryders. The lives of this group is entirely different. Everyone is appreciated and respected. No one is treated as better or worse than another. Everyone does their part.
Thus, in this novel we follow Nalah. Nalah has grown up in Mega City, and her journey to meet the Ashé Ryders makes her question everything she’s ever believed in. It makes her question her reliance on violence. It makes her doubt her desire for power and comfort while others suffer. It makes her question gender roles.
Therefore, the novel is very rich in character development. A central element of this story is Nalah’s character growth. Nevertheless, Nalah’s strong convictions lead to a lot of repetition in the novel. As I listened to the audiobook, I often felt like I was reading different variations of the same three sentences. This is especially the case because of Nalah’s black and white view of the world. She was very stubborn in letting go of her believes, and this meant that being in Nalah’s head sometimes felt redundant.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this! I appreciated the focus on Nalah’s world view being questioned. I also appreciated the side characters. Not all of them were fully fleshed out, but Truck and Miguel/Graciela were especially compelling. Both of these characters pushed Nalah in different ways. Truck pushed Nalah to be more open with what she felt and what she needed. Miguel/Graciela helped Nalah push beyond the gender binary. Honestly? The three of them made this book so worth the read.
Finally, I liked that this book ended with uncertainty. The characters knew where they were going, but we didn’t get to see them through it all. It made me sad, but it was a writing choice I understood and respected. There was hope in the end, and that’s what matters to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
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