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stardust_heidi's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Kyr isn’t necessarily the most likable character, a fact she is confronted with many times throughout the book, but I found her character arc super compelling. I think the roller coaster of an arc she experiences is very relatable to someone stepping outside of this regimented, propaganda-filled upbringing; to find that the universe is nothing like she’d been taught it is…it’s a hard pill to swallow. To see her xenophobia morph into acknowledgment of personhood; to see the injustices endured by her fellow women, to learn what it is to love and care about individuals outside her circle — honestly, I found it such a fantastic journey.
It’s not pretty. It’s painful, ugly, and dark along the way to destroying this patriarchal shitshow. But I think the author did a great job and inserting these slivers of optimism and drive in order to make the world better for others.
I was engaged the whole book. It took me on some twists I wasn’t expecting, though I admit I’m usually easy to please lol.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
bex_knighthunterbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The main character is completely indoctrinated, and so is pretty infuriating to follow, but this does give big scope for character development as she gets her eyes opened. The other main character (arguably - though there is only one POV) is also a douche with questionable morals, and then the other side characters are more one dimensional, which means I found it hard to get invested from a character perspective in this book.
I think the plot was quite clever, with a few twists or reveals that I really didn't see coming and I thought added an interesting element to the story. The setting does have a few interesting elements (e.g. the agoge/wisdom, the planet crysalthamus - excuse the spelling, I listened to this on audio), but the ones that intrigued me weren't very deeply explored (the impact of the wisdom on society would be huge and fascinating!), and instead most of the focus was on the space station, which felt like your standard space fascism with elements of handmaid's tale.
There are lots of themes, which I did find interesting: bodily autonomy, fascism, cycles of revenge driving war, are humans inherently dangerous, impact of propaganda and indoctrination, being queer in a heteronormative world - but I don't think these were any of them explored in much depth, and were dealt with in quite a heavy-handed way. On this aspect, I think this fits better with YA where I wouldn't expect as much nuance. I'd say this book is more focussed on the plot and action, over the world or themes, which will work well for some, but didn't especially for me.
A fun fast-paced romp, with a lot of ambitious interesting elements I'd have liked to see explored more.
Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Suicide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Incest, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape and Transphobia
milliemudd's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Murder, and Outing
Minor: Misogyny and Abortion
toopunkrockforshul's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest, Racism, Police brutality, Abortion, and Outing
lady_sharp's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror and Abandonment
Contains an on-page suicide, women being forced into the roles of breeding stock, in-depth look at cults, attempted grooming of a minor and a successful past attempt that resulted in the birth of a child, genocide, a forced kiss, and an attempted rapeimchelsi's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
haleywofford's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and War
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
paukinra'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Xenophobia and Pregnancy
kindra_demi's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
First, let me say, I started reading the physical book but I switched to the audiobook because again grad school. Before I get into the book, let me just say Sena Byer has become one of my favorite narrators and I cannot wait to listen to more work from her. She voices each character so well (to the point I thought there had to be new narrators for the different voices. Literally a vocal chameleon).
Now the book. I will preface with I am a sucker for books with characters whose world is shattered by getting an understanding of how messed up their perception is (such as with nationalism for this book). This book then brings in elements of trying to understand your world when dimension changes are possible. It was set for me to be a book I absolutely love.
It's so easy to get into the world. Yes, there is a lot of world-building (it's sci-fi), but it's not something I found extremely difficult. I would recommend it actually for someone who isn't super familiar with sci-fi but wants to start reading it. There are "excerpts from other books" (that are from the Some Desperate Glory universe) that help give context to the story itself.
The mc can be insufferable (and rightfully so. The mc is a teen who was raised in a military base as a "war breed child". She was literally made to serve her station.), but you watch them as they grow and change. There are characters that you'll either hate or hate to love. There are characters that I personally want to put in bubble wrap and protect their sweet souls. And all of these feelings are established early in the book. So when the multiple dimensions become a factor, it can really influence one's opinions on a character.
TL;DR: Yes read it. Read it if you love sci-fi or love stories that are about the breaking of one's nationalistic perspective. And read it in either a physical/ebook or an audiobook option. Emily Tesh (and if you chose the audiobook, Sena Byer), will not do you wrong.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Torture, and Medical content
pineapple_queen'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Torture, and Lesbophobia