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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5, I thought it was immensely powerful and insightful but the somewhat super natural elements threw me off especially near the end. I really liked it and the messages in it but the ending 100 or so pages got very convoluted at least for me with what was happening.
dark
emotional
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
This story just hit me and had me emotionally invested. I don't think I can honestly say that Vern is likable, however I absolutely loved her. Even though there were parts of the book that I didn't necessarily love, such as how ott the individual antagonist was and how "neatly" the ending seemed to wrap it, over-all I loved the book.
I enjoy that this book doesn't pull punches with its social commentary, it just puts it out there without trying to sugar coat it.
Even with the parts that I wasn't fond of, the story had me crying and enraptured too much to give it less than a 5.
I enjoy that this book doesn't pull punches with its social commentary, it just puts it out there without trying to sugar coat it.
Even with the parts that I wasn't fond of, the story had me crying and enraptured too much to give it less than a 5.
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
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
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was really interesting. It reminded me a lot of Octavia Butler's work in the way that it uses sci Fi to explore themes of racism, gender, and sexuality. I think I preferred the first half, I the second half felt rushed and the answers to the mysteries and questions were wrapped up without much explanation. I get that the government had started this experimentation program involving fungi to make some kind of superhuman. But we never get much more info on where the fungus came from, how they were able to infect people with it, how that turned into Cainland... It just felt incomplete to me. I really did not like how everyone was killed and then immediately brought back to life again. It completely removed any stakes that were present, and while the fungus was super interesting, it turned it to an excuse for Vern being able to do basically anything and be invincible. Final point on what I didn't like: I don't think Ollie was a good villain. She kind of just came out of nowhere and felt much more like a foot soldier than the immortal mastermind she was revealed to be. That being said, Vern was an extremely well written character, certainly not always likeable but that's what made her so well done. Her relationship with her children was especially well done.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Wow. Vern is just, everything. What an incredible main character. Her stream of consciousness was honestly one of the best parts of this book. I loved Vern’s kids. I’m generally not a fan of kids as plot devices but my goodness did it work here. The plot is interesting and while I have read fungi related body horror before, they were nothing quite like this. The real life history of the United States horrific treatment of BIPOC was a specter hanging over you (the reader) throughout the entirety of the book. At no point did the book let you forget, and it was as effective as it was heartbreaking and rage inducing. I went into this book mostly blind and I’m very glad I did. I would absolutely 100 percent recommend this book.
