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apollo0325's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
With every action they make to take away your rights, they adopt an air of phony shame, as if they actually cared about the consequences of their beliefs.
This book was absolutely heart-wrenching, and the fact it was/is the reality of queer kids is even worse. Despite the best efforts, people still think queers are an illness, something that can be ‘cured’ when this is who we are. So many drape their homophobia with religion too.
This book is H E A V Y and even so, it’s an understatement. It’s important but difficult and necessary to have queer books centered on subject matter like this. Every queer story doesn’t end in a happily ever after.
Framing it within Greek mythology adds another layer of interest and way to connect to Raya’s journey. It also felt like a coping mechanism for Raya which is a common trend among queers (shout out to my PJO queers, ayyy).
My only critique of this book is the lack of understanding of time passing. It feels like SO MUCH has happened but then Raya mentions being dropped off four days ago? It felt a bit unclear. Then again, this may have been an intentional choice by the author to show even Raya has no concept of time and self in the latter half of the book.
Lastly, I implore anyone wanting to read this book to PLEASE LOOK AT TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book does not fuck around. For real.
“You know, the thing about family is that you can choose it. And I choose you.”
Moderate: Blood, Biphobia, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Torture, Violence, Hate crime, Dysphoria, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Note for sexual harassment tag: the kids forced to go to the conversion camp are also forced to watch content of boys kissing boys or girls kissing girls or near sexual experiences between the same sexes. Nothing is explicitly detailed but it is mentioned. I didn’t know which tag to choose so I chose that one.megan_sullivan's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Confinement, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Outing, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Biphobia, Car accident, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Torture
gwas007'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Self harm, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Biphobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Deadnaming, Blood, Cursing, and Death
grace007's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Cursing