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pobi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
2.5
I'm glad this book exists but it just wasn't really for me. I think the world is introduced without enough info for me and sometimes that made me feel like I didn't really understand the world or the characters motivations, which made it harder to care about the plot. The characters are also relatively young, so maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I was a teenager. I also think this book was trying to talk about maybe too much all at once, which meant none of it got that much detail out into it. My favourite part was honestly the authors note at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War and Colonisation
sophiesmallhands's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Fatphobia, Colonisation, Classism, Police brutality, Death of parent, Death, and Gore
jac_panic_attac's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
k_fry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
On the positive side - this book is gorgeous. The different planets feel distinct, the characters are all unique and interesting, as are their individual expressions. I also really felt like the story was cohesive and clear to follow which I don’t think is always the case with a graphic novel.
I loved the worldbuilding in concept, but I’ll admit I can’t fully buy into the utopia that Delliquati explores and tries to sell as existing in the story.
There is a certain Pacifist subset of society that turn away from ongoing struggles in the universe to protect themselves and live in their utopia. My issue with this is the underlying implications. In a story about how to make a world fairer, how is it fair for people to have their basic needs met, and moreover be able to have freedom to pursue any interest at a whim, when they are also aware of struggles elsewhere? How can they be comfortable watching their food materialize Star Trek style while people starve across a galaxy? It’s not a question I expect an answer to but I’m left frustrated that it wasn’t a question asked in the story.
While hinted at during a conversation between Lu and Fassen early on, no significant exploration of the disconnect occurred among the larger group later.
I think you could read into Lu’s actions as part of that exploration, in my head though I interpreted them as related more to their personal interest in research for the sake of research.
Overall, it wasn’t until forced to contribute that this society made a significant effort to work against the empire, which rivals the collectivist mindset otherwise described. That was still only a select few members however.
Maybe it’s reading this while living in the US as the genocide in Gaza is taking place, but that lack of nuance didn’t sit well with me as I read. I guess I felt like there should have been more reflection on the decision to stay out of things.
I throughly enjoyed the read and the ways it made me think about topics of war, rebellion, human needs beyond the most basic, and connections between people. I may not have been able to fully buy into every aspect, but the story even making me think that way is, in my opinion, a testament to how wonderful it is.
I loved the worldbuilding in concept, but I’ll admit I can’t fully buy into the utopia that Delliquati explores and tries to sell as existing in the story.
While hinted at during a conversation between Lu and Fassen early on, no significant exploration of the disconnect occurred among the larger group later.
I think you could read into Lu’s actions as part of that exploration, in my head though I interpreted them as related more to their personal interest in research for the sake of research.
Overall, it wasn’t until forced to contribute that this society made a significant effort to work against the empire, which rivals the collectivist mindset otherwise described. That was still only a select few members however.
Maybe it’s reading this while living in the US as the genocide in Gaza is taking place, but that lack of nuance didn’t sit well with me as I read. I guess I felt like there should have been more reflection on the decision to stay out of things.
I throughly enjoyed the read and the ways it made me think about topics of war, rebellion, human needs beyond the most basic, and connections between people. I may not have been able to fully buy into every aspect, but the story even making me think that way is, in my opinion, a testament to how wonderful it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
smasson13's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It's very queer, very diverse, but struggles to piece itself together. The ending and explanation of morals is easily explained due to it being a children's book. Yet, the work was jumpy and at times difficult to follow the plot clearly.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Dysphoria, War, Police brutality, Classism, and Murder
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
novella42's review
adventurous
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and War
zombiezami's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
4.5
My only point of contention, which isn't a complaint, is that the book is described as a romance and it's not. I don't know why that's in the blurb. Everything was amazing otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Blood, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Vomit
torrentsofhayl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Death of parent
Moderate: Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and War
micaelacccc's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
This felt like a warm hug. It was something I didn't know I needed, but I'm so glad I got to experience it. It made me feel hopeful for what we all can do as a society to push back against corrupt forces. Overall, it was a lovely, cozy & wonderful story full of body positivity and unapologetic queerness!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Colonisation, War, and Gun violence
Minor: Dysphoria and Death of parent