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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
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
Adult dystopian fiction has a hard balance to strike these days — when the world is feeling particularly apocalyptic already, there needs to be a resonance and a message that goes beyond world-building just for world-building's sake. (Otherwise, I feel like I'm reading fanfiction about our imminent reality.) Gabrielle Korn nailed it, and managed to tiptoe the line between grave forewarning and hopefulness.
There were a few times that I felt like I was being bonked over the head a little too firmly with the "climate destruction is happening in front of our eyes" points via character monologues, but maybe that's just my own feeling because I already think about climate change all the time!!
There were a few times that I felt like I was being bonked over the head a little too firmly with the "climate destruction is happening in front of our eyes" points via character monologues, but maybe that's just my own feeling because I already think about climate change all the time!!
I was really excited to read this prequel/sequel after YOURS FOR THE TAKING but didn't find it as compelling. I think what I really liked about YFTT was the commentary on white feminism and that felt lacking in this novel. Glad to see more diversity in queer rep though.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
sooo the entire time I was reading this I felt like I was missing something. (who is Jacqueline? what does she do? who is Shelby? who is July? what is Inside? why do I keep getting all of the characters confused?)
well apparently, this is a sequel when the synopsis just says "set in the same world of 'yours for the taking.'" labelling this as a sequel when it 100% is would be very helpful for the reader to not feel lost when reading and would therefore lead to better reviews/ratings as I'm not the only one who had this same issue.
this was a quick easy read and it was fine. I just felt like I was waiting the whole book for something to happen, even when I was 70% in. I liked the book and enjoyed reading it but it wasn't perfect.
pros:
- lgbt+ rep: bi, pan, non-binary, trans, lesbian (I really like how these sexualities were actually labeled in the book to provide representation and we got to see what sex is like for each of these characters)
- realistic view on soon-to-come climate change and politics
- lots of women main characters
cons:
- reads like (cringe, bad) YA
- this book is not marketed as a sequel and should be if that is relevant to the story!!
things that bothered me:
- all the characters talk like they just discovered the F word for the first time
- the author loves to show you something but then tell you the obvious right after, just to make sure that you got what she was trying to say (even though it was obvious)
- the decisions the characters make do not really make any sense
- the part where a character breaks their leg and can walk on it again within A MONTH. I guess it was a tiny leg break
- woman forces herself to be in a poly relationship even when she doesn't want to be and has to pretend to be happy and gaslight herself then writes to her daughter "I wish you could find a love like this" lol sis what???? (again, the characters make decisions that don't really make sense)
this quote took me out: "the sunlight was turning Max's sweat into golden nectar as it dripped down the sides of their face. Camilla wanted to become a hummingbird and sip it." lmaoooooooo there's actually a lot of quotes in this book that turn a beautiful moment gross, like comparing the moon to a toenail clipping??? bye
I also felt like there was so much left to be wrapped up at the end that there could easily be a third book.
well apparently, this is a sequel when the synopsis just says "set in the same world of 'yours for the taking.'" labelling this as a sequel when it 100% is would be very helpful for the reader to not feel lost when reading and would therefore lead to better reviews/ratings as I'm not the only one who had this same issue.
this was a quick easy read and it was fine. I just felt like I was waiting the whole book for something to happen, even when I was 70% in. I liked the book and enjoyed reading it but it wasn't perfect.
pros:
- lgbt+ rep: bi, pan, non-binary, trans, lesbian (I really like how these sexualities were actually labeled in the book to provide representation and we got to see what sex is like for each of these characters)
- realistic view on soon-to-come climate change and politics
- lots of women main characters
cons:
- reads like (cringe, bad) YA
- this book is not marketed as a sequel and should be if that is relevant to the story!!
things that bothered me:
- all the characters talk like they just discovered the F word for the first time
- the author loves to show you something but then tell you the obvious right after, just to make sure that you got what she was trying to say (even though it was obvious)
- the decisions the characters make do not really make any sense
- the part where a character breaks their leg and can walk on it again within A MONTH. I guess it was a tiny leg break
- woman forces herself to be in a poly relationship even when she doesn't want to be and has to pretend to be happy and gaslight herself then writes to her daughter "I wish you could find a love like this" lol sis what???? (again, the characters make decisions that don't really make sense)
this quote took me out: "the sunlight was turning Max's sweat into golden nectar as it dripped down the sides of their face. Camilla wanted to become a hummingbird and sip it." lmaoooooooo there's actually a lot of quotes in this book that turn a beautiful moment gross, like comparing the moon to a toenail clipping??? bye
I also felt like there was so much left to be wrapped up at the end that there could easily be a third book.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I requested this book, my gut told me that this could be a fantastic book, and I was right!
This is a queer dystopian story with separate narratives that are connected with each other. The first one takes place in 2041, and we meet Kelly, who's looking for Orchid, the daughter she left behind seven years ago. Fast forward to 2078, and we found Orchid, now a grown-up woman, navigating in a world devastated by climate change consequences alongside other survivors.
I didn't know this book was the second installment in a series, but I could read it easily, even with all the references to the first book. I found the main characters very compelling and believable. Also, the queer aspects of the story are perfect; we have characters (and relationships, obviously) whose queer identities don't define them, nor are their queerness the center of any big issue. The story has fabulous thoughts about our society, climate change, and human resilience. The writing is clever and very informative. A nicely balanced plot, with some flaws, I have to say, that speaks about a well researched book from an author who takes care of the details.
ARC given by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a queer dystopian story with separate narratives that are connected with each other. The first one takes place in 2041, and we meet Kelly, who's looking for Orchid, the daughter she left behind seven years ago. Fast forward to 2078, and we found Orchid, now a grown-up woman, navigating in a world devastated by climate change consequences alongside other survivors.
I didn't know this book was the second installment in a series, but I could read it easily, even with all the references to the first book. I found the main characters very compelling and believable. Also, the queer aspects of the story are perfect; we have characters (and relationships, obviously) whose queer identities don't define them, nor are their queerness the center of any big issue. The story has fabulous thoughts about our society, climate change, and human resilience. The writing is clever and very informative. A nicely balanced plot, with some flaws, I have to say, that speaks about a well researched book from an author who takes care of the details.
ARC given by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Very cool concept, characters, and plot. I wish for a more descriptive writing style at times.
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced