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slburg's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed this book way more then I thought I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: War, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Child death
kwichris's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
It took me too many years to finally read this wonderfully written science-fiction epic. For anyone who has seen the movie, please read this book, as it contains so much missing content that really demonstrates the breadth of this world Card has envisioned. The way in which he weaves topics of religion, abuse, isolation, and grief together in a futuristic world where humanity 'cannot' afford to deal with these concepts in fear of an alien 'threat' is nothing short of masterful. I do wish some concepts were given a little more time, like the subplot with Valentine/Peter Wiggin influencing public opinion on Earth while Ender trains for the fight of his life or the subtle importance of religion on how the society currently functions and how it resurfaces at the end of the novel so suddenly. Overall, a must-read for fans of this genre, and a good choice for young readers wishing to engage with material than will challenge them, make them think, and help them develop mental imagery skills thanks to the clear pictures Card has written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Child death, Genocide, Grief, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Minor: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Blood
mika_the_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, War, Death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
paguroidea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I get the hype behind this one, finally. Kind of surprised that there are so many sequels, I could see two or three making sense with where things ended but there’s around 16 in the whole series? Can’t see myself reading them all but who knows. Definitely interested in at least the ones that will round out that last arc in the ending…unless that takes all 16 or so in the series to get to…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: War and Violence
miastr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal death, War, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Child death, Racism, and Violence
robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
This was not for me for so many reasons. Mainly because of the amount of violence, how the book jumps right in and the reader has to catch up and the fact that children are taken away and trained to be soldiers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Genocide, and Death
rubyfusca's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, War, Murder, and Death
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Perpetuates antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Antisemitism, War, Violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia
onyxisalive's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book was alright. Some parts of it I liked- I enjoyed the exploration of is it okay to do monstrous things for the sake of survival? That was very interesting. However, the fact is that they are abusing children, it isn’t older people that are making the choices, you see this young child being forced and manipulated into doing things he wouldn’t have willingly done. The fact that there are no consequences is interesting and sad. It would’ve been nice at the end to see the guilt of the adults and the people that did this instead of nothing. As a result, the theme feels under explored. I don’t have an issue with the lack of consequences, as I think that is pretty unrealistic, but the emotional consequences and the fact that there are characters that could call out (at least internally) how wrong this was, yet didn’t, is a little strange.
The book really lagged in the middle, and the pace was all over the place. Years were skipped in sentences whereas other points really dragged. The book would go from really exploring the emotional impact on Ender, to these action sequences. It felt quite jarring and left the emotional moments feeling really skipped over and under explored.
The action sequences were fine. The writing was fine.
Overall, this was alright. I feel kind of disappointed as the parts of the book I did find interesting, in the end were so under explored it felt really meh. There was so much more to say about those things, and because of the way things are left it kind of comes across like the author is excusing the things done to Ender rather than exploring the lengths humans will go to for survival (and all the moral complications that come with it).
The book really lagged in the middle, and the pace was all over the place. Years were skipped in sentences whereas other points really dragged. The book would go from really exploring the emotional impact on Ender, to these action sequences. It felt quite jarring and left the emotional moments feeling really skipped over and under explored.
The action sequences were fine. The writing was fine.
Overall, this was alright. I feel kind of disappointed as the parts of the book I did find interesting, in the end were so under explored it felt really meh. There was so much more to say about those things, and because of the way things are left it kind of comes across like the author is excusing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Genocide, and War
Moderate: Toxic friendship
rkeith94's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse