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meganemarshall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 rating.
This concept was really interesting, but I feel like it fell flat in many areas. The book starts with a letter from an author writing to another author to like 'Hey, what do you think of my book'. So I think that I ruined the book a little bit cause i was thinking the book was gonna be written with journal articles and documents used mostly to explain. It did that a little, but I was disappointed there wasn't more.
There were 4 main characters' POV but sometimes also side characters POV. It would sometimes swith POVs in confusing places. I didn't actually connect to any of the characters. One character storyline would get more interesting, while the others were kind of boring, and then it would switch, and it never really stayed consistent.
At times, the plot felt really weak jumping between all these characters, which they do end up crossing paths at times. Each of their stories didn't really have a good arc. Then there wasn't a really good main arc throughout the story. The book was an odd mix of hypocritical concepts, simplifying dynamics, going from one extreme to the other, but also having really important explanations of things that women deal with.
Overall, the idea was really interesting, but the execution was just not there for me.
This concept was really interesting, but I feel like it fell flat in many areas. The book starts with a letter from an author writing to another author to like 'Hey, what do you think of my book'. So I think that I ruined the book a little bit cause i was thinking the book was gonna be written with journal articles and documents used mostly to explain. It did that a little, but I was disappointed there wasn't more.
There were 4 main characters' POV but sometimes also side characters POV. It would sometimes swith POVs in confusing places. I didn't actually connect to any of the characters. One character storyline would get more interesting, while the others were kind of boring, and then it would switch, and it never really stayed consistent.
At times, the plot felt really weak jumping between all these characters, which they do end up crossing paths at times. Each of their stories didn't really have a good arc. Then there wasn't a really good main arc throughout the story. The book was an odd mix of hypocritical concepts, simplifying dynamics, going from one extreme to the other, but also having really important explanations of things that women deal with.
Overall, the idea was really interesting, but the execution was just not there for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape
Minor: Trafficking
allyjshand's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Power was darker and more graphic than I was expecting, although I can’t fault that as that’s more of a personal preference. I loved the premise and found the power subversions seen throughout the book clever although often challenging to read. I also enjoyed the format of the book with the different POVs, the emails, and images as they added something different. Having said that, I felt like the relationships between characters were sometimes weak, perhaps bringing them together sooner would have helped this. I also didn’t enjoy the ending as I didn’t really understand the characters’ motives. Overall a mixed bag and a three star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Gore, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: War, Death of parent, Cursing, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug use
mkegley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Gore, War, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Trafficking and Gun violence
Minor: Drug abuse
bestkasescenario's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Loved it! The ending felt a little rushed and it didn’t feel “complete” but I still loved the book in its entirety. Excellent storytelling & I did find it a little Atwood-esque which made sense at the end to learn that Atwood mentored Alderman. Stoked to watch the show, I hope it lives up to the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Slavery, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexual assault, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
tahiru's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
garverse's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
book was decent! I was interested throughout, although some of the perspectives/moment felt entirely too cliche it felt like really poor fiction
also the tone felt off a lot, but I liked when it languished in certain descriptions of moments
also the tone felt off a lot, but I liked when it languished in certain descriptions of moments
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence
boombaeyah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Super cool premise! I didn’t really care for the story itself but I love the concept overall! Interesting but not captivating (to me).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Sexism
smite2000's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Hate crime, War, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Violence
derivedcalyx's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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? N/A
4.75
One of my favorite books I've read (granted most books I finish are my favorite until I read the next book). Genuinely great book, and the fictitious back and forth between Neil and Naomi at the end is incredibly witty and enjoyable. The pacing was wonderful for the story, and the interspersed pieces of archeological and anthropological bits and bobs were great for the building of the tone and overall mysticism around the world. I loved the way Alderman put into the work the development of a religion, it was probably my favorite part of the whole book. She wrote it in such a way that it invoked a sense of religious fervor in myself. Holy shit was it good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
bookwormcat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Rape, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Physical abuse, War, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual content