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shieldbearer's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
There's a lot of great concepts at play here, but the execution of them story wise is questionable, especially with the way the author tends to use this book as an author tract- something that isn't always smoothly executed in story. Which while in some ways this book was ahead of its time, in others it is exactly a product of the time it was written, namely with the racism and misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Ableism, Death, Infertility, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Racism, and War
If you're reading this book just for the robot,speroergosum's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape, Violence, and Sexism
rosedtide's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I read this book on a recommendation from a list of lgbt focused books and unfortunately on that front i was sorely disappointed. Heteronormative polyamory and unconventional marriages between m/f couples does not lgbt representation make.
The only slight hint at lgbt rep is when mike (the ai computer) switches between a "male" and a "female" personality at the request of his human friends, pretty sure it was meant by the author as a gag so alas im not counting it
I did consider putting the book down around a third of the way through because i thought it was about to turn into another one of those boring romance novels masquerading as sci-fi (granted i just find heterosexuals extremely boring to read about) but i was pleasantly surprised that the romance was not prominent at all. Although i will say that some casual sexism and comments about 15 year old girls getting married erc were hard to ignore.. The book loses at least a few points from me because of that.
The politics of the plot are quite dense and a little hard to keep track of but it was interesting enough that it kept my attention for most of it.
HOWEVER i am a big fan of stories involving sentient ai and friendship between them and humans so i couldnt help but find that aspect of the story very charming and wished there was more of it.
I did consider putting the book down around a third of the way through because i thought it was about to turn into another one of those boring romance novels masquerading as sci-fi (granted i just find heterosexuals extremely boring to read about) but i was pleasantly surprised that the romance was not prominent at all. Although i will say that some casual sexism and comments about 15 year old girls getting married erc were hard to ignore.. The book loses at least a few points from me because of that.
The politics of the plot are quite dense and a little hard to keep track of but it was interesting enough that it kept my attention for most of it.
HOWEVER i am a big fan of stories involving sentient ai and friendship between them and humans so i couldnt help but find that aspect of the story very charming and wished there was more of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
greenteadragon's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Unfortunately, I found that it uses some sexist and racist tropes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mass/school shootings, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug use, Grief, Infertility, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, and Torture
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