Scan barcode
epbuckley89's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Murder, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Bullying, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Rape, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Animal death
Minor: Colonisation, Cursing, Genocide, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
glitterdeww's review against another edition
- 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
Beyond Jemisin's incredible world and character development (which, if you know you know, omg! Lol) I found the structure of the story, from first page to last, to be remarkable. I'm fairly certain that if I was not told how well done this book was, I may not have dug into every scene to the extent that I did upon first go through. But goddamnit lol I cannot get over the level of precision in her story structure. The breadcrumbs she leaves... The explanation and then LACK of explanation to guide the reader into drawing those conclusions... The crafting is perfection.
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Classism, Death, Genocide, and Hate crime
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
mald626's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Torture
ches2496's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
The world building was intricate and well thought-out, and the mysteries kept me reading and wanting to find out what happened. It’s also why I will continue the series!
The bad:
I wasn’t a huge fan of the second person used for certain perspectives, but I could work with it.
Trigger warnings explanation:
This book was pretty dark. Although the violence wasn’t graphically depicted, generally, there was a lot of violence against children. Which made sense for the plot, but was also difficult to read. There was quite a bit of sexual content, although usually not graphically described. Things like the breeding of humans made sense for the plot. It was referred to, but not described graphically. There was at least one moderately graphic scene involving a three-way. There were also two brief references made to sexual violence against children.
Conclusion:
Overall, it was an interesting, albeit dark fantasy with unique world-building and an intricate plot!
Graphic: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Child death
Moderate: Xenophobia, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Violence, Racial slurs, Murder, War, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
sparksofkell's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Classism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Torture
Minor: Pregnancy
emily_journals's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Abandonment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, and Transphobia
mauricekofi's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Child death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Grief, and Slavery
faithaforman's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Slavery, Child death, and Cursing
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Pedophilia
cherry_lake's review against another edition
- 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
Things I loved about it:
- World building
- Character development
- Queerness as an unremarkable aspect of the world
- Excellent pacing
- Complete commitment to the geology theme
- Such a good plot twist near the end
- Loose writing style that easily enveloped very difficult themes and humor
Graphic: Trafficking, Physical abuse, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Torture, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Pregnancy
biobeetle's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Torture, Slavery, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Abandonment, Bullying, and Death