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kyahs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
4.0
Appreciated the parallel to race, colonisation and gender identity. Looking forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, and War
nigerianturtle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.75
It was a compelling and engaging read… I was conflicted in my review at first but honestly the book is beautifully written. There is a lot to think about and it is necessary to note that the author does not pass judgement on characters, the main character does. You see what she finds acceptable and what she falls prey to throughout the narration. I think she is incredibly contradictory and almost easily manipulated in a way that is really captivating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Colonisation
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide attempt
ivycrowned's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Dawn is an interesting tale about what it means to be human, and ultimately I think it’s a story about depersonalization and loss of agency. About struggling toward any kind of freedom you can against impossible “well meaning” odds. Many times I wanted to cry for Lilith in this book. She was constantly giving and trying, only to be left behind at every turn.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy
lilly_dav_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
I like it??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
kri13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.5
At first I really enjoyed this book. The heavy plot of coercion and sexual assault became too much for me. It's troubling how the captures are made to seem almost affectionate. I also thought the book worked under the assumption that men would rape women on site if they'd been alone for a time- and that all humans would want to quickly form heterosexual couples when put in a room together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
jitterbugsnap's review against another edition
4.0
A really compelling book, though the pacing sort of dragged in the middle when it needed to rapidly introduce a whole host of new characters. Butler builds a fascinating and terrifying world and honestly I'm glad I've read this for a book club because there is So much to discuss. It's a juicy one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
tungstenmouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
This book is very heavy and shoves the worst traits of humanity in your face at times. I'd like to say it still gave me hope but then Butler came in behind me and crushed that hope. However, the narrative is effective and the storytelling is good. I found it all strangely believable despite its bleakness. Even the main character has unlikable traits and I appreciated that for its reality. I also appreciated how imaginative the idea of the aliens were. Very different from your standard Star Wars/Trek aliens. Also, I appreciated the allegory of the Slave Trade.
Overall, I'd say this is worth the read but just be ready to be hurt.
Overall, I'd say this is worth the read but just be ready to be hurt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
cinderackerman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
I was addicted to this book from the beginning. Something about it captured me early on and kept me enraptured for the entirety of the book. I want to know more and am ready to read more about this dystopian world and how everyone fares on their return to Earth.
Lilith's fear is very understandable. I don't know what I would've done in her position, though I would like to think I wouldn't be as fearful. But we can never know until we are in that sort of a position.
Lilith's fear is very understandable. I don't know what I would've done in her position, though I would like to think I wouldn't be as fearful. But we can never know until we are in that sort of a position.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War
lizzy_op_destiny's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Rape
pandact's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-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
5.0
It's wild to think that this book came less than a decade after the HeLa cell line was revealed to be Henrietta Lacks! The worldbuilding was so good that I liked the Ooankali when I read it as a kid, unaware of how they were colonizing human DNA! I think about Xenogenesis every time I hear genetic engineering, and I need to reread now that I know more about scientific ethics
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation