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jodar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
It’s a novel of two halves: The first half has a setting of almost Edenic innocence, which the author tries to reinforce through a whimsical tone, rather immature humour and the MC’s crude, adolescent-level sexual attitudes. The first half seems more like a YA rather than adult novel. The second half, which begins with a sort of expulsion from Eden, is much stronger. The MC character learns the truth about the world and his place in it. The tone of the writing is more cutting, albeit lightened from time to time with more of same silly humour. Although in the second part the action is rather melodramatic and the outcomes are quite predictable, it does at least present all the characters with dilemmas to face.
Some interesting themes are explored – friendship, personhood, forgiveness, free will – but for me this is done from a pretty superficial, “progressive” point of view without a lot of nuance. I come away from the story with a feeling of melancholy, moral grubbiness and cosmic brutality.
Addendum: The ebook I read came with a prequel short story, “Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!”, which explores many of the same themes and I thought was more compelling than the novel.
Graphic: Genocide, Grief, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Confinement, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
sophie42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, and Genocide
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming and Animal death
exhaustedmumma'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Kidnapping
nelli_lakatos'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: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Animal death, Violence, Bullying, Death, Dementia, and Genocide
tamara_joy'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Genocide
Minor: Death, Blood, and Sexual content
lonelylooper'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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Grief, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Animal cruelty
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Dementia, Death, Self harm, Blood, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Sexual harassment, Excrement, Outing, and Gore
unavaleriaconpecas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Child death
pepper_mind'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: Genocide and Death
Minor: Blood
judereadsalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief