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ssinforshort's review
2.0
The concept of this story was great, Black people getting their 40 acres and a mule under water as mer-people, but the story itself was very confusing and hard to follow.
lelathecat's review
3.0
I think I got Lost
I think I may not have given this book the time and attention it deserved. In return I received interesting and imaginative exposition and good writing in general but found myself confused about the "point" of the story. Maybe there isn't a point but I think it is more likely that I missed a reference or a plot point somewhere along the way. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I felt a little lost by the end.
I think I may not have given this book the time and attention it deserved. In return I received interesting and imaginative exposition and good writing in general but found myself confused about the "point" of the story. Maybe there isn't a point but I think it is more likely that I missed a reference or a plot point somewhere along the way. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I felt a little lost by the end.
ogrebattle's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Weird weird weird.
Also, very much like the first chapter of something more.
Also, very much like the first chapter of something more.
zombehdoll's review
4.0
This compelling sci-fi has a fascinating premise and it made me want to read more from Nisi Shawl. In this story, Black Americans are given reparations in the form of 40-acre plots of land underneath the ocean off the US coast, and given body modifications to live underwater. However these undersea settlements are patrolled by white supremacists, so the Mer residents still face hostility and violence. They find the deeper waters are safer, but it will take ingenuity and cooperation to develop their home on their own terms.The setting descriptions are intriguing and the story is imaginative and fantastical, but it definitely retains a dystopian theme which feels cautionary and chilling. Very well done. I also loved Lemar Burton's audiobook narration.
booksandladders's review
2.0
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I wanted this to be my favourite of these short stories. I mean, merpeople and read by LeVar Burton! But I honestly couldn't tell you what just happened at the end. It was an interesting concept that just missed it's mark completely. Maybe if this had been a full story I would have enjoyed it more, connected more with the characters, and thought that the plot wasn't as rushed.
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I wanted this to be my favourite of these short stories. I mean, merpeople and read by LeVar Burton! But I honestly couldn't tell you what just happened at the end. It was an interesting concept that just missed it's mark completely. Maybe if this had been a full story I would have enjoyed it more, connected more with the characters, and thought that the plot wasn't as rushed.
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helene0707's review
This shorty story has such a cool premise—but fails miserably due to its execution. It’s riddled with acronyms which are never explained, abbreviations, and neologisms, which makes it hard to follow the story. Whenever I’d finally figured out what a word actually meant, I was caught off guard by a new piece of vocabulary in the next paragraph.
A lot of plot-driving elements are never explained—I don’t know about you, but swimming is hard. Are all the characters in the story superheroes who can run marathons, and, ergo, swim for days? Sadly, the world building is also lacklustre, and I feel Shawl should have tailored the story to the needs of a more broader audience. A story ruined by too much ambition.
A lot of plot-driving elements are never explained—I don’t know about you, but swimming is hard. Are all the characters in the story superheroes who can run marathons, and, ergo, swim for days? Sadly, the world building is also lacklustre, and I feel Shawl should have tailored the story to the needs of a more broader audience. A story ruined by too much ambition.
socorrobaptista's review
4.0
Eu achei a ideia muito perturbadora, mas não deixa de ser interessante. Uma boa narrativa para discutir questões raciais e também para questionar: o que nos torna, afinal, humanos?
charlottewilloughby's review
2.0
This is the third book in this series and it was just as confusing.
Also all black people getting forced to be made into merpeople, that is my understanding.
I can see where the author was going with this concept, but it wasn't particularly well executed unfortunately
Also all black people getting forced to be made into merpeople, that is my understanding.
I can see where the author was going with this concept, but it wasn't particularly well executed unfortunately
pena12488's review
2.0
I get the concept of the book, but it was a confusing book. It was hard to get through the book.