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ramreadsagain's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This is such an interesting book full of love, grief, existentialism, and humanity.
There was a point around the 75% mark where it lost me slightly but I did end up really liking the ending after that.
A really quick read but it’s left me with a lot to think about.
There was a point around the 75% mark where it lost me slightly but I did end up really liking the ending after that.
A really quick read but it’s left me with a lot to think about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent
tigger89's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
This book was incredible. I can't think of any other piece of media I've consumed that has featured a middle-aged trans women who isn't particularly femme as the protagonist, so that alone was unique. I also enjoyed the take on a utopia, where you can see how much better things are while at the same time spotting the cracks where maybe there's something less-than-perfect under the surface. Yet there isn't some grand conspiracy to uncover. This isn't the story of how the alien invaders were unmasked and repelled. The utopia is presented as a good thing, probably(though, like all good speculative fiction, it does leave you wondering a little).
Rather, this is a story that deals primarily with grief, as we follow Trina mourning not just the loss of her wife but also that of the world she remembers. She rejects the Seep, choosing to do things the old way whenever possible, a perspective that leaves her unable to cope when confronted with new views on death and rebirth. Her devotion to the old ways is ultimately so destructive that it puts her own health at risk, an apt metaphor for what humanity is doing to our planet and each other with the way we live. It's a sad story, but beautiful as well.
The one thing I thought was a little odd was how Trina's heritage was handled. She's half Jewish and half Native American. My apologies, if the nation was specified I've forgotten it and can't locate it now. While her Jewishness is reflected upon somewhat in the narrative, her Native American heritage didn't seem to be explored to any degree beyond her name: Trina FastHorse Goldberg-Oneka. Now, I'm not trying to say that a character's heritage has to be important to the plot. Of course they can just be Jewish, or Chinese, or Ojibwe, or whatever. What stood out to me here was the lopsidedness of it, where one half of her identity was recognized in the story while the other was kind of just...there. Perhaps this is a fault of the reader, that I didn't know enough to recognize the moments when it was made relevant. It's very possible.
Rather, this is a story that deals primarily with grief, as we follow Trina mourning not just the loss of her wife but also that of the world she remembers. She rejects the Seep, choosing to do things the old way whenever possible, a perspective that leaves her unable to cope when confronted with new views on death and rebirth. Her devotion to the old ways is ultimately so destructive that it puts her own health at risk, an apt metaphor for what humanity is doing to our planet and each other with the way we live. It's a sad story, but beautiful as well.
The one thing I thought was a little odd was how Trina's heritage was handled. She's half Jewish and half Native American. My apologies, if the nation was specified I've forgotten it and can't locate it now. While her Jewishness is reflected upon somewhat in the narrative, her Native American heritage didn't seem to be explored to any degree beyond her name: Trina FastHorse Goldberg-Oneka. Now, I'm not trying to say that a character's heritage has to be important to the plot. Of course they can just be Jewish, or Chinese, or Ojibwe, or whatever. What stood out to me here was the lopsidedness of it, where one half of her identity was recognized in the story while the other was kind of just...there. Perhaps this is a fault of the reader, that I didn't know enough to recognize the moments when it was made relevant. It's very possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Death and Suicidal thoughts
remimicha's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Medical content, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Body horror
brittni_in_ink's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
A story about a middle-aged trans woman dealing with an alien invasion and the loss of her wife. But what if that alien invasion made society better, and what if her wife chose to literally start her life over? These are some of the fascinating ideas that form this beautiful novella about humanity and grief, embodiment and autonomy. I loved that we're told things about the aliens and their impact on a need-to-know basis, and have some time jumps to adjust to with the main character. Just excellent writing and a sense of a personal journey throughout. It moved me beyond words.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Abandonment, Grief, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
jazhandz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
valodniece's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a weird one, and I'm not quite sure what to think of it? I think I like it. But I'm not entirely sure I get the whole message. Some of it, sure. About the importance of being able to feel grief and feel unhappy and how those are parts of the human experience that shouldn't be erased, but I also feel like there was more I was supposed to take away from it...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism and Gun violence
nick13's review
challenging
emotional
funny
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
4.0
What did I just read? This story had so much going on with a really amazing concept and idea and while I thought the writing to be a little not-so-well paced, i.e. a six year time jump that isn't mentioned until several chapters later, and I found the ending to be a bit lackluster imo, the world in this novel is just astounding. With that in mind, it would be criminal to give this book less than four stars and something I'd recommend to anyone who likes really weird and interesting worlds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Body horror
Moderate: Grief, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racism and Murder
schildpad's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
breadwitchery's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Alcoholism
Minor: Transphobia, Racism, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts