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kylieqrada's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 ⭐s. Claire North is the sh!t, ok? I wasn't sure if any of her other synopses sounded good to me after reading 84K and Notes from the Burning Age, but my library had this one and I decided to grab it. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. While less experimental in style than the other things I have read from her, this was downright eerie, and kept me guessing until the end. It also delivered hard on the social commentary that I've come to love from this author. I just want to immerse myself in Claire North's writing. It's too good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, and Rape
5aru's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was... in all fairness, the book was good. The writing is excellent, and its deep, near-surgical examination of some of the worst evils of humanity is pretty spot-on. However, this comes at a cost - meaning, it doesn't really engage you. There is so much exposition it was hard to get invested in a storyline; by the time you did, William was already moving on to deal with something or somebody else; he's completely jaded by the time he starts his narration, and this jadedness can't help but move towards the reader as well. I couldn't really get invested in the characters, or what happened to them, because knowing so many harsh truths about anyone is enough to disenchant you.
And yet, I suppose I enjoyed it well enough. The quality of the writing really carried this story through; if it had been written by any lesser hand, it would've fallen short entirely.
And yet, I suppose I enjoyed it well enough. The quality of the writing really carried this story through; if it had been written by any lesser hand, it would've fallen short entirely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, and Torture
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