Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn

11 reviews

ukponge's review

challenging hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Transphobia

hflh's review

tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Ok. I really enjoyed this book, BUT I think it will disappoint a lot of readers. 

It’s simple and on-the-nose (buzzwords included), has flat characters with a tidy plot, and you have to suspend some disbelief. If you’re looking for a nuanced, in-depth critique on climate, gender, capitalism, and white feminism — you’ll be disappointed. 

BUT sometimes you need just want to turn off your brain and jump in and this did that for me. There are some really interesting and fucked up elements in this dystopian world that kept me engaged and

the cartoonishly evil billionaire

was a good laugh.

I’d encourage readers to go in blind, but the villain reads like a

bossbabe trying to build a paradise created by J.K. Rowling and a beige mom

.

NOTE: while there’s lots of queer rep, one of the blurbs on the book says it’s found family but I don’t think this will scratch your found family itch.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Drug use, Pregnancy, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Transphobia, Vomit, and Classism

Minor: Alcohol, Ableism, Mental illness, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexual content

doxxing, forced pregnancy, overdose

k_shimer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Infertility, Lesbophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Biphobia, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and War

dykebakery's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide, and Medical trauma

kylieqrada's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

Queer climate fiction is kinda my jam, though???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Transphobia, and Grief

Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug use, Sexism, and Sexual violence

aelzz93's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Addiction

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Drug use, Classism, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement

laughtrack17's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Suicide

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Transphobia, Addiction, Death, and Abandonment

Minor: Drug use

browneyesblue84's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Gabrielle Korn’s debut novel Yours For The Taking is a story of survival , humanity and climate change. It is a beautiful story that kept me engaged until the very end. The writing was seamless. The main characters are well fleshed out. I enjoyed reached the third person narrative of characters who are unlike me. There is a character named Shelby who is trans, Olympia who is non binary, Ava and Orchid are lesbians. One of the ew cis characters is Jaqueline but she grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. She’s a wealthy heiress and a businesswoman but so out of touch with regular everyday  people. Two other characters who are  not defined by any gender roles or norms which is also pretty cool. 

The concept of having a chance of survival by living within the confines of a climate controlled energy efficient building is intriguing at first. Once the truth is revealed that utopia becomes frightening and unnerving. Jaqueline’s true plan for this community along with the other communities constructed in different parts of the world is sinister. Yet, I cannot be surprised that a woman like her would want to play God in some shape or form. Ava’s story shifts in a woman that becomes organic and relatable despite the circumstance. 

My only issue with the story is the concept of a woman not wanting to have a child only to have one and she suddenly changes. She becomes a mom which plays into the notion of women not knowing what they want. However, I think the inclusion of that concept was needed as well. Along with the idea of a community that is not structured around patriarchy. A generation of people born free of that concept as actually pretty cool to read about. 

I am rating the book five out of five. The idea of the story starting at the beginning of the end of the world is something I’ve never experienced before. I’m looking forward to reading the next story that author Gabrielle Korn creates in the near future. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Drug use

One character goes experiences post partum depression. A non binary character speaks of being sexually harassed and assaulted. Mentions of death . One character overdoses on a substance. His body is found and described in graphic detail.

wornpagesandendlesscoffey's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Yours for the Taking takes sapphic novels and redefines them. I can imagine its characters asking 'Bechtel test? How primitive.' This book asks the question 'What if a white feminist is given supreme power and authority'- and the results are as disastrous and disturbing as you can imagine. In a world ravaged by climate change, a world destroyed by raging storms and too high temperatures, innovators create "Inside"; a safe zone for the select few financed by the world's billionaires. The story follows a group of women as they navigate this new world, the betrayals, love, and heartache they experience; and how dangerous a lack of intersectionality can be. This one is one to watch, and an important commentary on our social and personal dynamics in an ever changing world that never truly has our best interests at heart. A gripping narrative about power, race, and identity- and how even at the end of the world we divide and oppress each other. And what happens when we say enough is enough.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Ableism, Classism, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Pregnancy, Rape, Transphobia, Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death

ash_poison's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

I enjoyed most of this book, except for its ending which left me dissatisfied due to the unresolved plotlines. The book concluded on a frustrating cliffhanger, and while I have questions, I won't delve into them to avoid spoiling the experience for potential readers.

Several issues stood out to me. The initial concepts introduced in the beginning weren't consistently developed throughout the story. Some monologues were overly lengthy and felt unnecessary. The book featured an abundance of different points of view (POVs), including four women highlighted in the synopsis and an additional three introduced later on. This accumulation of seven distinct POVs lacked clear labeling, making it confusing to follow. Moreover, the portrayal of perspectives from transgender and black women felt underdeveloped, particularly concerning the challenges they might face, such as the amplified backlash a black woman might encounter compared to a white woman in a position of power. Proper research into these experiences, particularly within corporate America, would have enhanced authenticity. Additionally, certain conflicts were resolved too hastily.

Despite these criticisms, I found several intriguing aspects. The book effectively weaved in satirical elements, providing a thought-provoking exploration of feminism and the essence of womanhood. As someone who identifies as a feminist, I found my understanding evolving while reading, thanks to the author's impactful influence. The author possesses a remarkable command of language, crafting immersive settings and evoking genuine emotions from the characters. Even the perspectives of the antagonists were engrossing, prompting me to reflect on my own notions of feminism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, Classism, Transphobia, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Medical content, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Body horror, Drug use, and Death

Minor: Cancer and Child abuse