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dreareads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a fun scifi buddy cop(soldiers?) story about nostalgia and governmental propaganda. I think it is a book that is trying to do a lot, but at times forgets the logic of its own world building. I appreciated the anticapitalist, US military propaganda motifs, but they often times felt vague and repetitive. Towards the end of the book I was left with more questions than answer, and not in the fun interpretation kind of way, but in the "I don't think the story understand its own rules" kind of way.
Fortunately, the book centers around two main characters that you cannot help but fall in love with. I am obsessed with Rao and his unapologetic queerness and large personality. A personality that is deepened by his own personal trauma and insecurities. Pair him with a character like Adam, whom in the surface may seem serious and unfeeling but on the inside is warm and precious, and you simply have the perfect recipe for a captivating relationship. Even if the ending did not fully work for me, I was just happy to be with them.
For a 500+ pages book it was fun and fast paced enough that you do not feel fully bogged down by the lack of world building. But if you stop and think about it too much you will discover holes that not even prophet could fill.
Graphic: Police brutality, Abandonment, Cursing, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Torture, Violence, War, Racism, and Xenophobia
hazelmh'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: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
schnaucl'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
4.5
The idea of something that manifests your nostalgia is an intriguing one, as is the idea of someone who immediately knows if something is true. I can certainly see why intelligence agencies would want to control a person with such an ability. Frankly, I'm surprised they'd ever let him in the field given what a valuable resource he would be.
I feel a little ambivalent about the ending. I suppose given the government connections, they could officially undo Rao's death, although explaining it to his family would be more of a challenge. I also wonder if Rao being a recreation, even a perfect one, will start to cause problems down the line. I would think it would be difficult to not have imposter syndrome.
I think this is a standalone book but I'd definitely read more if they wanted to make it a series.
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Body horror, Drug abuse, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Vomit, Animal death, War, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Torture, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Racism
samanyana'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: Body horror, Mental illness, Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Death
teenytabris'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: Drug abuse, Body horror, Self harm, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, and Gore
rhinthell'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror
horchata's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Body horror, War, and Torture
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Torture
Minor: Homophobia, Car accident, and War
rinku'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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Alcohol, Body horror, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, War, Animal death, Violence, and Addiction
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Confinement, and Homophobia
paracosim'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
4.25
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators were fantastic. It actually took me a few chapters to realize the narrators were different people switching from POVs, because the voices they used for the characters sounded so similar. So it wasn’t jarring in the least. The plot was great, but there were a few parts that seemed a bit too convenient (or that made me want to shake the character’s shoulders to demand what the hell they were thinking). Overall, this was an extremely solid read and I think I’ll be buying a physical copy.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook to review.
Graphic: Body horror and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia and Animal death