Scan barcode
naestolgia_'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
5.0
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.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, War, and Classism
prosenheim's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Gore, Abandonment, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Lesbophobia
mariposa517's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Gun violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Cursing, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Pregnancy
leannanecdote's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, Trafficking, and Alcohol
traa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit
melodei3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
taliahsbookshelf'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
5.0
The premise, the plot, the characters, all of it fits together in this super intricate way. It's easy to follow but it's not easy to anticipate what's coming next.
I can't pinpoint the exact moment when I was reading that I went "Oh, this is what good writing is," but I can tell you I knew it. The whole time, I was engaged with the plot, I was invested in the characters and their journey, and I was intrigued by all of the challenges. Every time I put it down to take a break or go for a walk or get a snack, I couldn't stop thinking about it. To me, that's a sign of good book. And this? This was definitely a good book.
Although there is some worldbuilding that I felt could have been expanded to make this a duology, Micaiah Johnson crafted a world that feels eerily realistic and having a simple standalone definitely worked out.
While this does contain a romance, it's not the main plot of the book, and only serves to further character development of everyone involved. That being said, though, I was invested in the romance and was rooting for it to work
I will let you know: This isn't a YA novel. Although it doesn't contain any graphic scenes, the messaging and the divide between good and evil are incredibly subtle, though very power. I think younger readers could pick this up and would absolutely enjoy it, but marketing it as anything other than an adult sci-fi would be disingenuous to Micaiah Johnson's writing.
Favorite quotes:
"Even worthless things can become valuable once they become rare."(5)
"Death can be senseless, but life never is."(191)
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Blood, and Abandonment
internationalreads's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
seanml's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder