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cleot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Police brutality, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Violence, Antisemitism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Genocide, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
zigzagzmak's review against another edition
- 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
The people in this story just feel real, supported by such a real and well researched world inspired by very real events and places. It is so clear how Pulley spent ages reading and understanding the science of radiation and the politics and the history of what it was like in the Soviet union.
Additionally, stories where characters are queer but it's not the point and romance isn't the main storyline are so lovely, and this is no exception. There's a slow burning love story that happens alongside everything else, but in addition to the romantic love we also get to see the way that Valery's platonic love for humanity and his comradeship for those around him inspires rebellion and whistleblowing for the greater good of fellow humans living in danger. A++ work all aroundn with incredibly satisfying payoff that is irrefutable and inevitable without changing the tone or genre of the book when it happens.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, and Terminal illness
shmandy's review against another edition
4.25
Did I sign up for Natasha Pulley to slowly strong arm me into removing my heart piece by piece? Apparently.
Terribly sad and all at once warm , it really is all about love and octopi and friendship , isn’t it.
Graphic: Cancer and War
Moderate: Animal death
breadwitchery'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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and War
bel017's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
spacebornfew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
However it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore how poorly her female characters are treated. You can't help but feel that they are plot devices purely there to move things along for the leading men. Considering the book explores sexism and gender, at some points in quite a heavy handed manner, it feels incredibly jarring to still not have women exist to have some purpose beyond window dressing.
It's also very dark, at points a lot darker than her other novels which I had not entirely expected.
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Genocide, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and War
tamamorii'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Cancer and Homophobia
Moderate: Genocide and Antisemitism
Minor: Animal death
btrz7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail