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kb33's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
CW/TW explanation: there is no on page rape, but the mfc was a sex slave prior to this book. This story covers her sexual reawakening, and she works through her emotions about this on page. There is also
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Confinement, Trafficking, War, and Kidnapping
elledanie's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
4.5
My fav Risdaverse 🦾
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Gun violence, Gore, Excrement, Cursing, Torture, War, Slavery, Blood, Violence, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death
bookedinsideout's review against another edition
4.5
It’s the long-awaited (for me), very much adored When She Belongs! I so loved the isolated feeling of the two of them on the abandoned space station with Sleipnir the carinoux. Even in a world that can be awful and ugly, these characters carving out space for love and happiness and belonging is so hopeful and necessary. I especially loved the care and respect that went into learning each other’s boundaries and working on healing together. The lack of angst is perfect for me, though the concern that they might have to part with Sleipnir lasted a little long!
While not all of the answers are given in this book (what exactly happened to the va Sithai brothers), I can forgive that since they’ll get their own books and it’s a pretty cool idea to write a book as a serial even if I would be too impatient not to read the whole thing at once.
Unfortunately for a book with generally good disability representation (dealing with pain, prosthetics, sick care, etc.), I was disappointed to see the word “invalid” used… twice. First Sophie: “you’re having to take care of me like I’m an invalid” when she burned her hands, and then later Jarook telling Sophie that he’s “not an invalid” when she tries to help him with something. That’s just not a word we should be using, for what I feel are obvious reasons. Having a disability doesn’t make someone an “invalid”, nor does needing help or a break or care of any kind. I’m excited to read Zakoar’s story, the prosthetic surgeon who has prosthetics and a metal spine himself, but I’m really hoping not to see that word again, especially in a contemporary story.
My plan was to take a break from the Rubyverse after this book, but now I feel like I have to quickly read the Corsairs (which would be kind of like a prequel for me) so that I can then find out what happened to the va Sithai’s with the Corsair Brothers and then re-start the Ice Planet Barbarians and intersperse that with Ice Home… stat!
While not all of the answers are given in this book (what exactly happened to the va Sithai brothers), I can forgive that since they’ll get their own books and it’s a pretty cool idea to write a book as a serial even if I would be too impatient not to read the whole thing at once.
Unfortunately for a book with generally good disability representation (dealing with pain, prosthetics, sick care, etc.), I was disappointed to see the word “invalid” used… twice. First Sophie: “you’re having to take care of me like I’m an invalid” when she burned her hands, and then later Jarook telling Sophie that he’s “not an invalid” when she tries to help him with something. That’s just not a word we should be using, for what I feel are obvious reasons. Having a disability doesn’t make someone an “invalid”, nor does needing help or a break or care of any kind. I’m excited to read Zakoar’s story, the prosthetic surgeon who has prosthetics and a metal spine himself, but I’m really hoping not to see that word again, especially in a contemporary story.
My plan was to take a break from the Rubyverse after this book, but now I feel like I have to quickly read the Corsairs (which would be kind of like a prequel for me) so that I can then find out what happened to the va Sithai’s with the Corsair Brothers and then re-start the Ice Planet Barbarians and intersperse that with Ice Home… stat!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence and Ableism
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