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allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In this ya science fiction mystery, we are following along with two perspectives: Cee, in full surviver mode on an island & Kasey, trying to find out what happened when her sister Celia vanished from their floating eco-city three months ago. As Kasey's investigation keeps twisting in new directions, Earth's environment continues to deteriorate. A megaquake kills hundreds of millions, and a solution might live in Kasey's mind if she can only convince the world to follow.
In the beginning, the parameters of this mystery seem straightforward even if the solution is not: how did Cee get to the island and why? But these foundational questions grow in number and complexity as the story builds: when timelines don't match up, when partial explanations edge out others, when conflicting information seems to take up the same space. I was on the edge of my seat for this one.
This dystopian novel also begs several bigger questions about our future as a species and that of our planet: what is feasible to save us? And what is allowable? It also asks that well-worn but still elusive question of science fiction: what is it to be human? While most elements of the story wrap up right at the end, prepare for things to be a bit open-ended. To be fair, with questions like these on the table, I think that's inevitable.
I really connected with this book on an intellectual level. It had my mind buzzing in junior detective mode, looking at characters distrustfully and trying to gauge the ethics of various actions. Where it didn't land with me was on the emotional front. Something would happen that I felt ought to trigger an emotional response, and I just wasn't there, personally. I suspect the swift pace that served the action of the story kept me from forming stronger attachments. However, I think there are several triggers that are worth mentioning for others in case your experiences might heighten the impact: (literal) loss of a sibling, parent death, suicide, and natural disasters to name some of the major ones.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
liuet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Genocide, Racism, and Vomit