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jmboff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Listened on audio. Between 3 and 3.5. This one was just okay. The premise is very intriguing, dystopian, and scientifically based. But the plot and character development just kind of fell flat.
***SPOILERS AHEAD****
<Spoiler>
Jean wasn't really that impressive of a main character. I hated her affair with Lorenzo and how accepting Patrick was of it. Like no fight or anything left in him, but he dies for her and it's like she didn't even care too much.
And Dell and Sharon, I wish their stories were more involved.
There was just too much of the same type of scenes. I enjoyed a good portion of it, but wish it expanded more on other plot lines and less on the plot line of them working in the lab incessantly.
I also feel like it was too unrealistic and forcing it to be realistic. Obviously it's fiction and dystopian. But I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you can't even get half the population to agree to wear a mask, but we're supposed to believe that the entire country would be okay with putting electric shock devices on all women to punish them for speaking? I just couldn't even imagine this in a fictitious sense. You're telling me not one single person or group would fight back and uproot that system or attempt to assassinate the president and they just go along with it? Nah.
</Spoiler>
Overall it was alright. Thankfully it was narrated by Julia Whelan so that saved it🤣
***SPOILERS AHEAD****
<Spoiler>
Jean wasn't really that impressive of a main character. I hated her affair with Lorenzo and how accepting Patrick was of it. Like no fight or anything left in him, but he dies for her and it's like she didn't even care too much.
And Dell and Sharon, I wish their stories were more involved.
There was just too much of the same type of scenes. I enjoyed a good portion of it, but wish it expanded more on other plot lines and less on the plot line of them working in the lab incessantly.
I also feel like it was too unrealistic and forcing it to be realistic. Obviously it's fiction and dystopian. But I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you can't even get half the population to agree to wear a mask, but we're supposed to believe that the entire country would be okay with putting electric shock devices on all women to punish them for speaking? I just couldn't even imagine this in a fictitious sense. You're telling me not one single person or group would fight back and uproot that system or attempt to assassinate the president and they just go along with it? Nah.
</Spoiler>
Overall it was alright. Thankfully it was narrated by Julia Whelan so that saved it🤣
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
stormwise's review against another edition
tense
2.0
I was very excited for this book - I'm obsessed with language and linguistics - but the execution...left much to be desired.
My biggest gripe with this book was the pacing. With 326 pages split into 80 chapters, the narrative felt very choppy - this was occasionally effective when moving between the present and flashbacks, but overall it just made it harder to follow the story, especially as the plot picked up. Speaking of the plot, the ending was an absolute mess. The story fizzled out in a confusing collection of scenes that we are mostly told about rather than shown, in whicha character is dramatically killed off - conveniently fixing a romance plot point.
I have certain expectations of contemporary social dystopian novels, especially those aimed at adults. One of those expectations is a certain degree of Intersectionality. Dalcher includes gay and lesbian (side) characters and examines what happens to them under the Pure regime, but fails to include trans people - which I would be more forgiving of if she hadn't chosen to have her protagonist use the acronym 'LGBTQIA'. If you're just going to focus on the L and G, why even mention the rest?
I was annoyed further by the fact that Dalcher is clearly aware of the issue of intersectionality - halfway through the book,the protagonist meets a black woman who predicts that she and her mixed race marriage will be treated more harshly by the Pure regime in the future. "Oh, good," I thought, "we'll see more about how other social groups are treated." It is then never mentioned ever again.
I'm not saying that I wanted to see black or trans people (or any other marginalised group) being treated badly in fiction, but it felt disingenuous that a plot device rooted so deeply in Conservative American values was for all intents and purposes merely sexist and homophobic, and not racist and transphobic.
(I also found the way that Jackie, a lesbian feminist protestor, was presented...a bit icky. "Feminism is good, but if you're too shouty and don't dress nicely then don't be surprised when you're branded as hysterical!" And don't get me started on the love confession flashback. Classic lesbians, amirite?)
Overall this book felt more like an exploration of the science and philosophy of the concept than an actual novel. The first few chapters of world building were very engaging but once the plot kicked it, it all fell apart.
My biggest gripe with this book was the pacing. With 326 pages split into 80 chapters, the narrative felt very choppy - this was occasionally effective when moving between the present and flashbacks, but overall it just made it harder to follow the story, especially as the plot picked up. Speaking of the plot, the ending was an absolute mess. The story fizzled out in a confusing collection of scenes that we are mostly told about rather than shown, in which
I have certain expectations of contemporary social dystopian novels, especially those aimed at adults. One of those expectations is a certain degree of Intersectionality. Dalcher includes gay and lesbian (side) characters and examines what happens to them under the Pure regime, but fails to include trans people - which I would be more forgiving of if she hadn't chosen to have her protagonist use the acronym 'LGBTQIA'. If you're just going to focus on the L and G, why even mention the rest?
I was annoyed further by the fact that Dalcher is clearly aware of the issue of intersectionality - halfway through the book,
I'm not saying that I wanted to see black or trans people (or any other marginalised group) being treated badly in fiction, but it felt disingenuous that a plot device rooted so deeply in Conservative American values was for all intents and purposes merely sexist and homophobic, and not racist and transphobic.
Overall this book felt more like an exploration of the science and philosophy of the concept than an actual novel. The first few chapters of world building were very engaging but once the plot kicked it, it all fell apart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty
btrz7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Blood, and Medical content
helendipietro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my first dystopian novel that I picked up in a charity shop because I had heard about it somewhere. I was immediately angered by the content which made it a fast and tense read. It truly highlights the importance of language and using our voice in politics especially for marginalised groups and in this case for women... before it becomes too late. Although the content was at times far fetched, you can see restrictions on human rights across the globe today so it doesn’t take much to imagine the world going this way. I like the pace of the book but found the ending to be quite rushed. However, it is one that I will remember and definitely recommend to others. Looking out for the next Dalcher novel.👌
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Animal death