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What saved this story for me was the MMC. Mr Steele the terrifying man that you are <3
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Classism
I really liked the dynamic between Khalani & Captain Steele at the beginning. It made sense that they hated each other, but it made no sense how they ended up falling in love. The amount of cringeee that came over my body when they confessed to each other. Like pleaseee, it was 2am and I was screaming (in displeasure 😤). Like sirrr, make it make sense why were you randomly being nice to her, just because you guys trained?? The chemistry at the beginning was clear, but the progression into them liking each other was way too fast 🏎️. If I interviewed them, I bet these two dud-heads couldn’t even tell me why they liked each. Kalhani would try and pull something like, ‘oh cause he sees me, he really understands me.’ MA’AM PLEASE, why are you allowing yourself to be swept away 🌪️ without so much of a thought. It’s not even been multiple books. This might be personal preference but I can’t stand fast-burn. Slow-burn supremacy all the way 👑. There’s a reason it (slow-burn) works, and authors should just stick with it, cause the pay-off is so good. Also this was was marketed as YA (YOUNG adult), so it should be fine with teens as well. I wanna go back to the days when YA actually was YA, while there is no long explicit scene, there is a small brief one that gets kinda descriptive. So that was already points off for me. Also it’s mentioned at the beginning of the book that the prisoners get to only shower like once a week (STINKYYY 🧽). Sooo why would you wanna go around being all up on each other……. I could never 😪😒. Let’s not forget, about the power dynamics here as well, Mr.Im so stoic & cold Captain and then Ms.poem Khalani (this literally is similar to the name genshin character, pretty name but werid haha….). Overall, the book just had a lot of potential but fell of towards the end, the relationship between the two leads was not handled well in my opinion.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Blood
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Murder
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Excrement, Alcohol
Khalani grew up in Apollo, one of the underground cities, and has just been thrown into Braderhelm--a prison infamous for its poor conditions brutal treatment--for stealing an illegal book of poetry. With both of her parents dead, Khalani hasn't found much to live for and willingly accepts her sentence.
While in prison, Khalani meets a few friends and one interesting guard who quickly becomes her sworn enemy. She has to learn who to trust and how to trust despite everything she's been through. Khalani attempts to understand the workings of Braderhelm and the truth behind what happened to the Earth.
This story is one of overcoming fears and surviving nonetheless. The author does an excellent job portraying the way those who live in the prestigious city of Genesis--a city in a dome above the surface for the elite and high-class--treat those who are, quite literally, below them in Braderhelm and Apollo. The whole story seems to be a cautionary one of a totalitarian regime and the exploitation of slave labor through the prison system.
This novel ended on such a cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next one to see where Khalani and her friends end up.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Mass/school shootings