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fivecatsinacoat'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? It's complicated
3.0
This was fun, but also fairly flat. It read more YA than adult, which is fine, but it also wasn't very deep. I wish this book had pushed further into the idea of losing your history and background and how that affects you.
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Confinement, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Kidnapping
stormeno'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Panic attacks/disorders
uhhlexiconic'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
3.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Torture, and Kidnapping
readingthroughinfinity'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
4.0
The narrative is funny and direct, the mystery surrounding the protagonists' amnesia is gripping, and the world-building feels very believable. Jamie and Zoe's friendship was definitely my favourite part of this novel. They begin the story as nemeses (though they don't stay that way for long) and end it as close friends, whose quest to recover their lost memories has bonded them for life. I really liked the fact that Zoe had super strength and near-invincibility, and she often had to save Jamie from moments of peril, as this subverts the usual stereotyped gendered roles we get in superhero-themed media.
Perhaps my favourite element of this book is the fact that there's no romance at all (apart from a minor side-romance (we only see the aftereffects of this)). Jamie and Zoe's friendship is a wonderful, strong, fulfilling bond and they don't share a romantic connection or sexual chemistry, which I LOVED. The author shows us that friendship is just as strong as a romantic relationship and that platonic love is in no way inferior to romantic love, and I adored that.
The narrative gets a little convoluted during some of the explanations of the antagonist's plans and a few parts of the final climax felt a bit too 'convenient' for me, but forgave these issues pretty easily because the great final twist and satisfying conclusion.
Content warnings for violence, amnesia, past death of a partner, on-page death of a spouse, building fires, gun violence, emotional manipulation, alcohol addiction.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Gun violence, and Addiction
Minor: Death
asphodelashes'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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Confinement, and Mental illness
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
marareading's review against another edition
If you like a medium pace, superheroes/superpowers, and heroes coming together to fight an evil corporation, you may want to give this a chance.
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
sarah984'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
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Car accident, and Dementia
beingsimba's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Need a quick, fun read about likeable anti-heroes gaining each other's trust to form a wonderfully platonic relationship while digging into who they were and who they are? This is your book!
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, and Violence
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
madarauchiha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love but hate superheroes. Not to be an elitist hipster, but marvel and dc comics are incredibly tedious these days. The rote, flashy, emotionless 3 hour long movies and poorly done tv series make me want to avoid the genre altogether. This isn't exactly this.
The best I could relate this to is a sci fi movie. Not a book adaption of a sci fi movie, but definitely one that you'd catch in smaller showings before popping up on daytime television to fill in some slots. It has the potential to become a cult classic.
I like that it wasn't clingy to standard hero vs villain plots. I was expecting a connect the dots, very basic premise, and was glad to find there is a little more thought put into this.
I think the female main character was treated fairly well as far as comic book type superheroes are treated.
I have mixed feelings on how the police were portrayed in this story. They are definitely not heroes in real life and can we please get over copaganda already? Us Asians are not exempt from their brutality, no matter how much you want to be the Model Minority.
I would love to see more from this story line, honestly. It sort of gives me Megamind feelings but not as an exact copy. More like something in the same venn diagram section, you know?
Content warnings:
Minor emetophobia
Major: pro police sentiment, alcohol abuse, gore, death, memory loss, violence, psychiatric abuse, psychiatric institutions, human experimentation, medical abuse, torture, abuse, unreality, demolition, live burial / claustrophobia,
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Death, Torture, Violence, Stalking, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Vomit