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goose'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Vomit, Islamophobia, and War
Other tags that Storygraph doesn't have:jokeater'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: Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Slavery and Islamophobia
afraidofwhat'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: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
signeskov'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
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Slavery, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
schausjk'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: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sophiesmallhands'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
zeppelinnyx'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
5.0
Quality of Writing: 10/10
Pacing: 9/10
Plot Development: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyability: 10/10
Ease of Reading: 6/10 (this book is Heavy)
Ending: 10/10
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tinyjude'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
Thus, the novel explores and discusses topics such as systemic racism, colorism, slavery, colonialism and the ways in which the latter works to increase the power of the Empire. These are characters who have been extracted from their homelands and treated as assets (Robin-Canton, Ramy-Calcutta, Victoire-Haiti; Letty is the only white British woman in their group). They are the language they speak because that is valuable for the Crown, but they are nothing more than devices, another instance of colonizers exploiting colonized people and taking away their languages, culture, etc...
Some reviews complain about timelines (the author stated at the beginning that it was a piece of fiction and some changes were made to accomodate the plot) and the use of anacronisms like "whiteness" as we understand it today, but I like them. After all, this text speaks to a modern audience, us, and even though at that time they didn't have a word for this thing, now that we do, we should use it.
The novel reads in some parts much like an academic paper, as it deals in depth with etymology, linguistics, history, a little bit of literature, philosophy and politics. So, as a language nerd who could recognize from my degree studies and further research, many of the authors, concepts, explanations and dilemmas discussed, I was elated. Like a cat smelling catnip or their favourite treat. Nevertheless, that didn't make it a dense book for me, in fact, it just sparkled my interest in languages even more.
Other people feel like it was a bit too-much-on-your-nose or handholding the reader through the book. They argue that it feels patronizing, as if we wouldn't be able to recognize the problems, the racist comments they receive, without the characters pointing it out. For people well versed in these topics and who have lived through all of these experiences, it's normal to think it was too much. Nonetheless, I think it was still useful, it will be useful for people who are starting to deconstructe themselves. Furthermore, I kind of love how she hammered into every paragraph thousands of critiques, moral dilemmas about justice, rightness, exploitatin, betrayal, belonging, grief, privilege, class, race and gender differences. Because I love angry characters full of spite and vengeful thoughts. As with Rin in The Poppy Wars, I was all in with Robin and the necessity of violence to occur for an Empire or an entire system to fall. And I am also fond of lots of descriptions :D
Moreover, the intricate relationship between translation and betrayal, translation and commodification, translation and colonization, translation and identity... It was exquisite and a very beautiful defense on why preserving every single language in the world is such an important task, as it is not just about the language, but also, culture, history, identity, a whole world behind that cannot be replaced or reconstructed. A richness that must be preserved.
Finally, Victorie, my love. You are so strong and one of my favourite characters. Ramy, you were the best of them all, since your first appearance I knew you would be my favourite. Robin, oh Robin and his constant dilemmas, feeling as if he was living two lives, as if he was never complete. I loved his character development. And Letty... Fuck you!
Final thought, did anyone else read some intense feelings between Robin and Ramy or was it just me? Romantic or really really platonic that go beyond their friendship in the group, like soulmates kinda.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism
naomiysl's review against another edition
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Death of parent
jaysaysnope'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: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Trafficking