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softgalaxy's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
2.0
This book had a great strong start, especially with the different POVS. But after a while, it lost me.
I don’t really know what this book was about? I only finished it because I thought there might be some meaning to it, but it just ended like, bam!
What was the point of this book? I really don’t know. To explore bodily autonomy through fantasy racism and xenophobia? There were no explanations to how Z ended up being undead. There was no conclusion or explanation to Aysel’s powers towards the end.
Was it the power of friendship? Maybe? Was it to do with marginalised communities coming together? Kind of? If it was to do with community, it really didn’t make its point.
Whenever a plot started, it seemed to fizzle away. It never got resolved. What happened to rest of the werewolves? What about Mrs Dunnigan? What about Mr Weber? Some weird choices.
The characters also suddenly changed in certain sections. Like Tommy, he suddenly got involved. There was a moment where Z gets angry at Aysel for having a home? Like that felt out of character.
This book just left me confused and unsatisfied.
I don’t really know what this book was about? I only finished it because I thought there might be some meaning to it, but it just ended like, bam!
What was the point of this book? I really don’t know. To explore bodily autonomy through fantasy racism and xenophobia? There were no explanations to how Z ended up being undead. There was no conclusion or explanation to Aysel’s powers towards the end.
Was it the power of friendship? Maybe? Was it to do with marginalised communities coming together? Kind of? If it was to do with community, it really didn’t make its point.
Whenever a plot started, it seemed to fizzle away. It never got resolved. What happened to rest of the werewolves? What about Mrs Dunnigan? What about Mr Weber? Some weird choices.
The characters also suddenly changed in certain sections. Like Tommy, he suddenly got involved. There was a moment where Z gets angry at Aysel for having a home? Like that felt out of character.
This book just left me confused and unsatisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Torture, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Vomit, Racism, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Child death, Body horror, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Murder
wiildsage's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book absolutely owns, I could not ask for more from a book. As a trans disabled person who has longed for representation that’s not 100% about being marginalized and not 100% depressing but doesn’t brush the realities of being a marginalized person to the side, this book really hits the spot. I also have never seen a book blend reality with fantasy in such a realistic way that, at times, you forget you don’t live in a world where werewolf and zombie rights are a major issue. The literacy of social justice issues that went into this book is very commendable, and the creativity that went into the worldbuilding here in general will blow you away. You’ll come away a more empathetic person with a deeper understanding of the world we live in AND you’ll have a new favorite zombie/werewolf/etc framework after reading Out of Salem. You won’t regret it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Car accident, and Mental illness
Minor: Antisemitism and Lesbophobia
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