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optimalbook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I am so very conflicted on this novel. The first 2/3rds were overall pretty good I loved the coming of age story of Arlen and Leesha and was curious to see where Rojer's story would go. My issues are however the strong focus on sex and "breeding" and the usage of SA later in the novel.
While I do believe Brett was trying to critique the diminished role of women in this world and dissuade notions of "virginal purity" it felt both heavy handed and simultaneously not dissuaded enough. The novel opens and closes with ideas of womanhood equating to birthing children and that birthing children is the end all be all.
Additionally, I kept waiting for Arlen's views on the world and on everyones roles in it to be questioned and become more reasoned but in the end Arlen's views feel mostly unchanged and unchallenged. I hope this is something addressed in the later novels.
As of now I think I will most likely continue though book 2 is not high on my TBR.
While I do believe Brett was trying to critique the diminished role of women in this world and dissuade notions of "virginal purity" it felt both heavy handed and simultaneously not dissuaded enough. The novel opens and closes with ideas of womanhood equating to birthing children and that birthing children is the end all be all.
Additionally, I kept waiting for Arlen's views on the world and on everyones roles in it to be questioned and become more reasoned but in the end Arlen's views feel mostly unchanged and unchallenged. I hope this is something addressed in the later novels.
As of now I think I will most likely continue though book 2 is not high on my TBR.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Pedophilia
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5 ⭐s. Loved the characters and premise, hated the sexism, misogyny, portrayal of female characters, and gratuitous pedophilia and rape scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
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