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uranaishi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Abandonment, Murder, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Vomit, Cancer, Colonisation, Medical content, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, Addiction, Trafficking, Transphobia, Child abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, and Miscarriage
laurataylor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Body horror, Drug use, and Blood
abijmieds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Cancer, Confinement, Mental illness, Outing, Murder, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Drug use, Child death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Death, Sexism, Violence, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Racial slurs
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
the book's premise is so fresh in concept w/ the world of the living and in-betweens overlaying one another. the exploration of its themes through the lagos setting is incisive and thought-provoking, and the queer characters + their stories range from macabre to sad to wholesome.
however, i personally find this book not very readable; aside from how surprisingly dense it is, sth just makes getting through it low-key a chore, making it the book i take the longest to finish this yr. the pacing could be a factor as it slogs at times, w/ the middle chunk esp rambling bc of the huge cast of interconnected characters who arent explored deeply enough. the novel's inventive concept couldve gone further into more fun - or at least unexpected - territory as well; somehow the magic and supernatural aspects of it arent fully taken advantage of, im afraid.
this is a provocative novel that treats queer stories w/ care and nuance, and adeptly explores themes that also interlink w/ its setting. im personally inspired by its craft but also think it hasnt yet reached its full potential both in terms of story and structure.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Suicide, Abandonment, Cancer, and Infidelity