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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
medium-paced
The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn is a thought-provoking sci-fi dystopian novel set in the near future that feels unsettlingly possible. While it can be read as a standalone, it serves as a companion to the author’s previous work, Yours For The Taking. Readers familiar with that book will notice connections through characters and themes, though starting with Yours For The Taking offers richer context.
The story alternates between timelines, weaving a narrative that gradually comes together. The author has crafted a world that is both terrifying and plausible, exploring pressing issues such as climate change, consent, choice, equality, and gender. These layers make the book deeply relevant to today’s world and might even invite multiple readings to fully grasp its complexity.
As a dystopian novel, the pacing is slower than some might expect, but this deliberate pace allows the themes to unfold with thoughtfulness and depth. The result is a chilling yet compelling vision of the future.
If you’re looking for a novel that blends queer representation with urgent social commentary, The Shutouts is a must-read. The author delivers a story that resonates deeply in the context of our current realities.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this book for review.
The story alternates between timelines, weaving a narrative that gradually comes together. The author has crafted a world that is both terrifying and plausible, exploring pressing issues such as climate change, consent, choice, equality, and gender. These layers make the book deeply relevant to today’s world and might even invite multiple readings to fully grasp its complexity.
As a dystopian novel, the pacing is slower than some might expect, but this deliberate pace allows the themes to unfold with thoughtfulness and depth. The result is a chilling yet compelling vision of the future.
If you’re looking for a novel that blends queer representation with urgent social commentary, The Shutouts is a must-read. The author delivers a story that resonates deeply in the context of our current realities.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this book for review.
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Abortion
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m really happy I read this. It wasn’t marketed as a sequel from my understanding so glad that I looked at the author specifically! I am happy to have followed these characters for longer and know what happened after Yours For the Taking. I do wish we got to glimpse what was happening Inside and hear from Olympia, and know more of July but I think that it also puts us and keeps us right in the perspective of the main characters. The format of the book with POV jumps and letters from the past was a great way to get the info. I really enjoyed this.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I loved the idea of post environmental chaos and dystopian themes. And I really liked that the author played with the idea of the government bending the knee to the ultra rich and everything that goes with that. Although it hits really close to home given the current nature of American politics and current administration. It’s like a very realistic warning to us all. I loved the inclusivity and representation of all the queer characters.
However, it was a bit of a slower read. Things didn’t really pick up until about halfway through the book. And the back and forth switch ups between storylines did make it confusing and hard to read at times. And there were a couple of different ideas that I hoped the author would’ve explored more.
Other than that it was a good read. Nice and short. Would recommend to Sci-fi lovers.
However, it was a bit of a slower read. Things didn’t really pick up until about halfway through the book. And the back and forth switch ups between storylines did make it confusing and hard to read at times. And there were a couple of different ideas that I hoped the author would’ve explored more.
Other than that it was a good read. Nice and short. Would recommend to Sci-fi lovers.