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erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The tension in this book is interesting because, unlike the characters, we know that the DeathCast system (that warns people on their last day, that they are about to die), is real and works. Nobody can predict that there will be a hiccup on its first day of use and that some of the people who are going to die that day have not been told, and even that is only revealed to the populace half way through the day.
For those who have read the other book first, there are revelations that are very obvious (we know what the creative app programming endeavours of one character are likely to culminate in), and some things that are much less obvious, such as a character making a phonecall from a pay phone, which are going to be phased out and trashed shortly.
My absolute favourite thing about Silvera's imagined world is that he has replaced a leading popular fantasy franchise with something I can really totally get behind. The major popular magical fiction series in his world is called Scorpius Hawthorn; and it's a magical story with prophecies and wizards and things. There are major movie spinoffs and the child actors are treated wonderfully, getting to play and have fun around film-shooting in Brazil, while their special dietary needs and health are supported by caring handlers. The author of the original book series is Poppy Iglesias and she's a lovely caring person who is also a Queer Latina Trans-woman. I would love to live in this fantasy where the most popular magic franchise is also ethical.
This book is a serious tear jerker. It has homophobia in it. It has sex in it; there are condoms, explicit consent, and not a lot of other detail. It's there as a celebration of love rather than to be titillating. There is also domestic violence, and gun violence, grief about losing parents in the 9/11 destruction, and apocalypse cults, and scary dudes in skull masks. The intended audience is probably 14+ but mature readers younger or older than that will probably enjoy it. Some of the coincidences seem ridiculously contrived and unlikely, but that's just the style of story, and is similar to the other book as well. I was caught in frisson several times when reminded of things like 9/11 or when I realised that throw away details experienced by one character were more relevant to the story of another character.
Fans of the original book will likely enjoy this one as much.
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Grief, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Blood
teacherkmd's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent and Car accident
lem0nbalm_'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
meeklovestoread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Cursing, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Violence
_addiii03's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
candacealise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
scjessie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Gun violence and Car accident
lenasabindawson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
positivelyellie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Cursing