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wickedlavender's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the queerness so much and the relationships and the use of different pronouns and how normalized it was but I just found myself frequently confused and having to re read and bored when the plot itself was fantastic. The pacing was off and giving me whiplash and honestly I felt like most of the first half of the book couldโve been condensed or completely cut and it wouldโve been a better read. I fully plan on keeping this author on my watch list because she had excellent ideas and some of these scenes were amazing. Being her first novel I fully expect amazing things from her in the future.
jadedarko's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
eol's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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
5.0
gayancalime's review against another edition
i think im officially a fan! i liked the characters and the world building so much in this one though suzhen was my favorite. sriduangkaew has a real way with melancholy and depressed characters--it never felt claustrophobic to be in suzhen's head but her despair and listlessness and depression felt REAL and lived in. i was really expecting more from her relationship with ovahu and i think frankly she ran out of space and i would love to see her write an actual full length novel (goodreads says the full length is 400 pages but its actually 218--a long novella imo). the resolution of the polyam situation felt--though good and genuine--truncated and i would have liked for the romance to have had more space to unfold between the three of them! i also loved taheen very much and this is PART OF THE REASON i wanted more of the romance is we learn something really crucial about them and their relationship to suzhen and it gets buried in the rush to the resolution. very upsetting to me personally who loves a good romance. especially when sriduangkaew's the sort of writer where i would have trusted her to build out a polyam relationship that didnt feel entirely motivated by the ethical nonmonogamy of online white queer discourse and culture.
i loved sriduangkaew's world building--the closed world of annata and the closed world of shenzen felt really similar and i like that she keeps returning to AIs in discord!! i think she really excels at approaching and dissambling the various problems of god-ai in a way that is really engaging; there is no perfect solution and i like that. there are lots of parts of this world that i would have liked to spend more time in--any of the warships or generation cities, MAHAKALA, HELLO. and so on--but i also am beginning to understand im a huge series reader and while i love these slips in and out of settings, i really really want more. so im hoping she comes back to this world! im not a huge fan of polyam romances but this felt both genuine and earned.
anyway, it has been a long time since ive wanted to be in a world this much and lamented having to leave it, so im very glad to have picked this up!
eta: maybe don't write reviews at 230am lmfao
i loved sriduangkaew's world building--the closed world of annata and the closed world of shenzen felt really similar and i like that she keeps returning to AIs in discord!! i think she really excels at approaching and dissambling the various problems of god-ai in a way that is really engaging; there is no perfect solution and i like that
Spoiler
when they leave everyone is like maybe kelsa will fail! but at least we have been liberated from samsara and we can begin anewanyway, it has been a long time since ive wanted to be in a world this much and lamented having to leave it, so im very glad to have picked this up!
eta: maybe don't write reviews at 230am lmfao
booknug's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
kl92620's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
The world that Sriduangkaew has created in Machine's Last Testament feels both like a haunting portrayal of the capitalist, imperialist world of modern day and a thoughtful exploration of the future of humanity under the advancements of techonology and artificial intelligence. On one hand we see the advanced civilization of Anatta where all of its first-class citizens are able to live comfortable, even luxurious lives, but the non-citizens and refugees who flee the wars that Anatta has waged on their homeland are subjected to detention, sadistic cruelty from authorities, and are often forced to work dangerous, risky jobs if they are to secure a place in this new utopia. This sounds more than similar to the stark contrast between the lives of the privileged, respected citizens and the lives of the abused, exploited immigrants in so many developed countries today. On the other hand, we also see a world dominated by benevolent surveillance and authoritarianism, a world that is perfect, a world where an all-powerful AI finds a job for you, finds a partner for you, gives you therapy, does everything it needs to do keep you healthy and happy. A world that works like a perfect machine, but a world that has no real privacy or freedom to speak of. A world that warns us about the future and makes us wonder about the direction that humanity is heading in. The society that Sriduangkaew has created here is definitely something that make the reader reflect on both the present and the future. This is definitely a book that raises a variety of deep questions along the story that keeps you thinking.
himatako's review against another edition
5.0
I don't even know what to say. It's the sci-fi story I didn't know I need. I was hooked just from the first chapter and once you started reading it's really hard to stop. The writing is beautiful, the characters are interesting and memorable (gosh, Ovuha.) I love the wide range of characters in there and they're there so naturally, as well as how various things in the world work with this much diversity. Having a positive representation of a polyamorous relationship is so refreshing and it isn't even just one! It's shown as something normal in this world and I'm really thankful for that. Samara is now one of the villains that I'll never forget, since this is probably one of those rare moments where, after I read and realized what Samsara's plan is, I yelled the F-word in disbelief at how disgusting this AI can be.
If you love a great sci-fi with brilliant queer representations, please read this.
If you love a great sci-fi with brilliant queer representations, please read this.
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
โค๏ธ ๐งก ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐งก โค๏ธ
Sriduangkaew my beloved, how fortunate I am to exist in the same time span as you, and be able to read your works. Growing up, I always had to mentally replace all the white characters in any book I read with characters of color, specifically my ethnicity. It was like breathing blood, not opening a book and having a mirror of yourself, of anyone you knew. The unending whiteness was sickening.
I love the lack of cishet existence in this world. I'm glad to read something that's not centered around western society. The book is slow but that's important and good and necessary. This isn't a plot or world to rush through. It's incredibly thoughtful and maintains its themes without feeling like yet another dystopian rebellion fantasy-sci fi book. If you're used to generic, boring, by the numbers ya dystopia rebellion novels, this will be too tough for you. It's an adult book in the adult sci fi genre for adults.
The prose is STUNNING. I had to stop multiple times just to let something soak into my brain wrinkles, god. This was written AND edited so well. Not a word wasted or missing.
I'm so excited to know there's more in this series, and from this author. I can't tell you how much I appreciate having such a talented Thai author sharing their works.
For those looking for lgbt representation in the book: the main characters are bisexual and the main love interest [who does get speaking parts and characterization!] is a nonbinary trans person. And yes there's also polyamory, but more at the ending than it being present throughout the entire book. Please don't read it only for this, though. I think this book and entire series is an excellent gem in the sci fi fantasy genre that doesn't need a 'hook' or gimmick like lgbt characters or characters of color to justify its existence in the publishing world.
As this is a series, I want to mention the ending felt natural and complete. There was no aggravating sequel bait, and this could be read as a standalone. I wouldn't recommend that, personally, as the world setting and plot is so intriguing that I feel absolutely compelled to continue in the series.
content warnings:
minor emetophobia, organ trafficking,
medium NSFW, brainwashing, emetophobia, unsanitary, violence, sexual assault, body horror, blood,
major confinement, prison abuse, smoking drugs, body horror, drowning, waterboarding, unsanitary, torture, gore, classism, confinement, prison abuse, alcohol use, murder, NSFW / sexual content / NSFW bdsm scenarios [full consent], torture, drugging, prison abuse, suicide, gore, demolition, explosion, domestic abuse, violence, injuries, medical scenarios, cultural genocide, gun violence,
Sriduangkaew my beloved, how fortunate I am to exist in the same time span as you, and be able to read your works. Growing up, I always had to mentally replace all the white characters in any book I read with characters of color, specifically my ethnicity. It was like breathing blood, not opening a book and having a mirror of yourself, of anyone you knew. The unending whiteness was sickening.
I love the lack of cishet existence in this world. I'm glad to read something that's not centered around western society. The book is slow but that's important and good and necessary. This isn't a plot or world to rush through. It's incredibly thoughtful and maintains its themes without feeling like yet another dystopian rebellion fantasy-sci fi book. If you're used to generic, boring, by the numbers ya dystopia rebellion novels, this will be too tough for you. It's an adult book in the adult sci fi genre for adults.
The prose is STUNNING. I had to stop multiple times just to let something soak into my brain wrinkles, god. This was written AND edited so well. Not a word wasted or missing.
I'm so excited to know there's more in this series, and from this author. I can't tell you how much I appreciate having such a talented Thai author sharing their works.
For those looking for lgbt representation in the book: the main characters are bisexual and the main love interest [who does get speaking parts and characterization!] is a nonbinary trans person. And yes there's also polyamory, but more at the ending than it being present throughout the entire book. Please don't read it only for this, though. I think this book and entire series is an excellent gem in the sci fi fantasy genre that doesn't need a 'hook' or gimmick like lgbt characters or characters of color to justify its existence in the publishing world.
As this is a series, I want to mention the ending felt natural and complete. There was no aggravating sequel bait, and this could be read as a standalone. I wouldn't recommend that, personally, as the world setting and plot is so intriguing that I feel absolutely compelled to continue in the series.
content warnings:
minor emetophobia, organ trafficking,
medium NSFW, brainwashing, emetophobia, unsanitary, violence, sexual assault, body horror, blood,
major confinement, prison abuse, smoking drugs, body horror, drowning, waterboarding, unsanitary, torture, gore, classism, confinement, prison abuse, alcohol use, murder, NSFW / sexual content / NSFW bdsm scenarios [full consent], torture, drugging, prison abuse, suicide, gore, demolition, explosion, domestic abuse, violence, injuries, medical scenarios, cultural genocide, gun violence,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Trafficking and Vomit
As fantastic as the diversity in the book is, I must add that there aren't Black characters. The focus is on Thai / Asian culture. I can somewhat respect the author for writing in their ow voice, and not trying to shoehorn in Black characters just to hit a check box or for tokenism. Still I do hope there will be Black characters in the series later on. There is mention of 'Nihongo' so there is certainly other ethnicities like Japanese people. The skill and talent shown by the author makes me believe they could incorporate Black characters without it being shoddy or obviously tokenized.