Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

4 reviews

katndrsn's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, War, Self harm, and Genocide

pixelpigeon's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love love love love gay gay gay gay

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, War, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Blood, and Body horror

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Great concept, great characters, but I think the author will get even better over time. (She was in college when this was written.) The book would be about a third shorter if the metaphors were removed. It all felt too earnest, where the author was trying too hard. Some subtlety would have been good.

As the promo says, if you like Pacific Rim (the movie) and the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown, then you'll like this. The problem is that this is too much like those, even going so far as having one of the protagonists be a miner, like in Red Rising. And, except for one semi-minor character, everyone is a teenager. I haven't seen Pacific Rim but the machines in the trailer look just the way the mechas are described.

What's best is the developing relationship between the two main characters, young women on opposite sides who fall for each other and begin working together. (Not a spoiler - this is in the book description.) It's inspiring and I imagine young queer people can benefit from as many young queer role models as creative society can give them.

A great start to a series; it just needs some polishing and a bit more maturity.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, War, Violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization

cottlestonpie's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, and Gun violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Genocide, Gore, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Stalking, Infidelity, and Cursing