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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
Such a unique book
Dark and funny, horrifying and mesmerizing, human and inhumane... This book delivers rich fantasy with a slathering of body horror and a riveting slide into the New Weird.
It also has one of my favorite features in a book, namely the deep sense that there are stories upon stories remaining to be told, constantly glimpsed at the edges and implied by the shadows they cast, teased by richly believable tendrils that weave in and out of view. As The NeverEnding Story so tantalizingly puts it, "...but that's another story and shall be told another time."
Definitely want to read more by this author!
It also has one of my favorite features in a book, namely the deep sense that there are stories upon stories remaining to be told, constantly glimpsed at the edges and implied by the shadows they cast, teased by richly believable tendrils that weave in and out of view. As The NeverEnding Story so tantalizingly puts it, "...but that's another story and shall be told another time."
Definitely want to read more by this author!
3.75. I really enjoyed this book for the most part. The diversity represented and the storylines for most of the characters is really good.
There were a couple moments in the end (with Ashlyn's POV) that were a bit too loosey goosey for me, but there was a small twist that almost compensated for it.
I'm pretty certain this is a standalone book, but I would love to revisit this world, especially following the aftermath of what happens (no spoilers!!!). I'm really looking forward to reading Squalia's other book and any that may come in the future; this has turned me into a fan!
I feel like the dystopian and fantasy elements create a similar feel to The Gunslinger by Stephen King. As a die-hard King fan I did not like that one and I know others who have struggled with it. If you felt the same about Gunslinger, give this one a shot!
All in all, confusing here and there, but if weird reads are your thing it's worth your time.
There were a couple moments in the end (with Ashlyn's POV) that were a bit too loosey goosey for me, but there was a small twist that almost compensated for it.
I'm pretty certain this is a standalone book, but I would love to revisit this world, especially following the aftermath of what happens (no spoilers!!!). I'm really looking forward to reading Squalia's other book and any that may come in the future; this has turned me into a fan!
I feel like the dystopian and fantasy elements create a similar feel to The Gunslinger by Stephen King. As a die-hard King fan I did not like that one and I know others who have struggled with it. If you felt the same about Gunslinger, give this one a shot!
All in all, confusing here and there, but if weird reads are your thing it's worth your time.
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Self harm, Outing, Dysphoria
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Deadnaming, Genocide, Infertility, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Self harm, Medical content, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, War, Classism
Honestly frustrated by this book. I felt like for a book that doesn't even crack 300 pages, a whole lot of nothing happened... Which is a huge disservice to the characters that genuinely interested me. I like that this book wasn't afraid of having a trans main character or lgbt relationships and the world-building that went along with it.
However, I feel that the "drama" didn't get a lot of building and I found myself more confused than not. Many words and concepts should have been laid out more plainly as the characters were treated to make sure we got it, wholeheartedly. This book easily could have been expanded and it would have felt less rushed at the end.
So, very interesting and unique ideas/characters with a story that just wasn't executed as cleanly as I hoped. Not a bad book overall, for sure and I appreciate it.
However, I feel that the "drama" didn't get a lot of building and I found myself more confused than not. Many words and concepts should have been laid out more plainly as the characters were treated to make sure we got it, wholeheartedly. This book easily could have been expanded and it would have felt less rushed at the end.
So, very interesting and unique ideas/characters with a story that just wasn't executed as cleanly as I hoped. Not a bad book overall, for sure and I appreciate it.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pretty good. Trans. Drugs and addiction. Grief. Religion, Magic. Would read and recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Transphobia, Violence, Cannibalism, Outing