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madamenovelist'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
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Police brutality
klbreyfogle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I looked up the author afterwords and it turns out they do a lot of work for Seven Seas (who translate a lot of danmei) and that totally makes sense for how they’ve written the characters and some of the tropes. The complex interpersonal relationships, sort of convoluted plot and simultaneously loose and strict moral codes follow some of the common danmei tropes imo - if you like that (which I do, I think it’s super interesting) then you’ll probably like this! If you like a more straightforward plot and set of protagonists it might not be for you.
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, and Death of parent
theelizabethjoy's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
quorumbutton's review
The characters also didn't really draw me in -- I wanted to like Sunai, but his intense self-loathing and self-destructive behavior turned me off. Honestly everyone in the book just seemed like they were miserable, traumatized, and angry. Coupled with my personal squick of mindfuckery being the main plot-component driving a story forward, I dropped this.
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment
mordshunger's review
- 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
4.0
While it felt like it wanted to say things about religious trauma and trust and betrayal, I fail to see how it did say anything meaningful about them. It feels dangerous to read for people who struggle with upholding boundaries to people who have abused them. I don't even have the right words for a proper CW so I'll just say the lack of consent is disgusting and the immediate forgiveness of the same sickening. It really tampered my enjoyment of the story. The apologetics of an ever understanding, self-neglecting and self-hating POV is just too much.
In general, there is a very inflationary use of love in this book. I understand what this is going for and that is why I think it is dangerous. People who love deeply will see themselves in this and it's not great. This is bad. If love is just a verb for one person and a weapon and exploit for everyone else, it becomes meaningless to even call it such. Fuck that forever.
Chronological impressions:
Welcome to the religious trauma struggle bus. The vibes are chef's kiss but also vague and referential at all times, it feels like I got oil in one eye forever.
This book y'all, it's really just a pile of the worst people you know. My number one pick for most trustworthy guy in this is the not-so-informed-consent AI splinter and I'm sure they will try to kill everyone.
Sinai, Jin und Veyadi consistently bring the energy of an EMT driver/student in exam crunch after three consecutive shifts.
I hate All of Them, but I hate Imaru most. If this bitch doesn't die I'm not reading the next book. Can't believe there is immediate forgiveness, understanding and love after the ultimate betrayal.
I've read some reviews of some very confused people who get lost in who betrayed who first and which plots overlap and let me just say it doesn't matter who betrays who when they all do. They all do! They're the worst!!! And they keep asking more of him. Veyadi, et Tu?
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Blood, and Abandonment
Do not read this if consent is important to you to be able to enjoy a book. Just skip it.