Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

73 reviews

starlitpage's review

adventurous challenging dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, and Cultural appropriation

martinatan's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

So so excellently crafted from the narrator voice to the build up of MULTIPLE worlds and the mechanics of traversing and the interactions between natives of different Earths, to the character development of the protagonist and the not quite expected ending. This story gave me so much and I’m in awe of the careful weaving that went into every reveal of circumstance and dialogue. Maybe it’s because I’m queer but the ending made me so very happy. I felt like everything was fought for through the plot and the characters’ very active scheming against one another. I can’t believe I actually read through this so slowly at first, but then got more intrigued about the conflict with each Part after I got used to the setting. That shows me how much I value good endings. Incredible story :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Deportation

Minor: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

turrean's review

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

Here is the multiverse, and the door to every world is a mirror that reflects the worst parts of the one you originally came from. Cara has to fight her way toward some kind of redemption against the twin backdrops of the safe, manicured city of a privileged, wealthy society that feeds like a tick on the poor, who dwell in a Mad Max-style wasteland. Most of the speaking roles are played by troubled, fit, 20-something badasses. 

I read about two-thirds of the book before switching to skim mode. 

The fictional science and the fictional mythology of the passage of multiverse travelers is fascinating. The focus, though, is very much on the emotional and social implications of a power structure completely and absolutely grounded in systemic classism and racism. The main character carries a monstrous burden of abuse and twisted guilt, and must always struggle against the pull of a toxic relationship that offered cruelty and evil, but also power and safety.

Every time Cara mulled over the differences between THAT Nik Nik and THIS Nik Nik, I was terrified she'd give in to the pull of that connection.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Classism, and Deportation

maryellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mikwrites's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Really intriguing story and world building. Cara is a compelling character as are most of those who surround her. I enjoyed the narrator as well. I felt the ending was a bit too tidy, personally, after a story with so many twists and turns and revelations.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Classism

Minor: Mental illness, Xenophobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

brynalexa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This is my second read through in preparation for the authors next book. I loved it even more, even though I knew all the twists and turns it would make. A truly believable and horrible world with truly beautiful people. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, War, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, and Sexual content

squibney's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.75

The ending was slightly lackluster for how profound the rest of the book was, but it didn’t ruin it for me and I would definitely read this again. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Murder

sofipitch's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

5.0

Loved this book, it feels nearly perfectly put together. It has interesting allegory and metaphors, lots of actual real world commentary, occasionally beautiful prose AND has compelling characters and an interesting plot. Lots of books only manage having one of those. Cara's journey, seeing different versions of herself and other people and how it changed her is so good. It is also a book that is comfortable with uncertainty, the mentions of pushes and pulls between science and religion or even if you can predict what will happen make it so good. It is so well crafted and nuanced both in thoughts and character creation. I do wish Dell could have contributed more to the plot, she seemed a bit stuck in her role of love interest in the story and I really liked her dynamic with Cara, I wish she could have done more (given she's on the cover also lol)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Classism

Minor: Gore, Violence, and Car accident

efearing's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia

naestolgia_'s review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

It is 2:25am as I finish this book. I'm speechless. 

This is one of the most profound stories I've read in a while. A sci-fi packed with action, philosophical themes, memorable characters and a plot that wouldn't quit. The author touched on race, classism, war, religion vs science, nature vs nurture all while pulling us through the multiverse. 

This story was full of twists and turns at every level. I could not put it down - it read like a complete series almost. I thought the conversation around identity and grief was thought provoking. Cara's flaws, conflicts and development were well written. I was good with the ending, but selfishly wish for something more cliche after everything. Ha! Will be a staple in my library for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, War, and Classism