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embee007'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? Yes
5.0
I am a little girl. I am a monster.
This is an uncomfortable & unsettling read in multiple ways. The rules keep changing, the oppression & misogyny are stifling. You're constantly questioning if you misread something (you didn't), misunderstood something (again, no), or if things are really happening (time will tell...). You may pause to reflect on it, or let it settle, you may even reread a sentence or two, or a few pages. But then you're (hopefully) shrugging & moving on, right back into the murk. Push thru the uncomfortable & unsettling feelings - this book is absolutely worth it.
"The women always have to fall because of a man."
Is this book similar to A Handmaid's Tale? Yes, but that's putting it extremely simply. Becoming scientifically reborn/placed into a new body after each death means an unending Handmaid's Tale (nightmare).
“What is the point of immortality if you can’t fucking remember your past?”
I almost wish this were two separate books? Or a series of short stories. The concepts introduced were so ginormous, so dense, & so heavy. Before we get all the answers to our original (albiet small) questions, & we're moved on problems & questions that are so big in comparison that there's really no logical scale - we're comparing grains of sand to a planet. & then when we have planet-sized issues on hand, we're supposed to go back to caring about a singular human, & those grains of sand too? I want more expansion on so much, to give us smaller information bites to chew on & digest & appreciate, but I love how it was done regardless, & this book will haunt me for some time to come.
"It’s funny when something irrefutably terrible happens, and people say, “How can such a thing happen?” But evil flows where it flows. Through gaps and loopholes and human beings. Indifferent to legislation and policies."
The dialogue is phenomenal - I have so many quotes saved. This was by far my favorite part. I felt like I didn't understand where the plot was going for a short while, but it all came together.
"Why must we always die in order to be seen?"
I don't know who, if anyone, I can reccomend this to. Check the Content Warnings!!! I cannot stress that enough. I had been looking forward to this book for months & I finally got it from the library this month, but it was not the best timing for me - I pushed thru regardless. I do not recommend this tactic for everyone.
"Everything is easily rigged once you understand the system."
Representation: disabled amputee MC, MC with fertility issues, nonbinary or agender MC, mostly Black (Botswana) characters. Motswana MC (own voices)
“This is a very networked hell.”
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Body horror, Car accident, Death, Gore, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Infertility
Moderate: Incest, Medical content, Racism, Ableism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Pedophilia
theskyylife'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Infertility and Violence
Minor: Rape
_kathill's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, and Classism
peachani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Trafficking, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual content, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Body horror, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Trafficking, Cannibalism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Rape, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Deportation, Kidnapping, Vomit, Child death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Cancer, Confinement, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Transphobia
deszra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
mb it’s an unpopular opinion to have liked the first half of the book but i was really invested in the world that Tlotlo Tsamaase had built and the way i thought the topics of memory, bodily autonomy, and the criminalization of female bodies were going to be handled. those two stars up there? are for the first like 40% of the book.
however…once the more horror elements came to the forefront it got real difficult for me to connect to the story. i’m sorry. ut Nelah and Jan are idiots, and even the reveal at the 60-70% mark doesn’t justify their decisions. also i feel like once That Event happened the writing suddenly took a turn for the worse, like Nelah didn’t sound like herself, neither did Jan, and the dialogue between them became so stilted and preachy almost? also i was STILL confused but couldn’t bring myself to care to do more than skim. i thought i could pull through and get to the end but uh…when a book leaves you feeling sick to your stomach THREE TIMES, dropping it is self care.
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual assault
sarabaier's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Violence and Body horror
Minor: Sexual assault
ashley_tx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Car accident, Suicide, Murder, Infidelity, Infertility, Sexism, and Sexual assault
pm_me_book_recs'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
3.5
I did like the setting, concept, and progression of story and conspiracy- but the characters were a little flat or relied too much on the plot for development? Some decisions felt forcibly poor, like I feel no one with a concept of cause and effect would make the choices that happened in this story. Once the plot picked up, it was a wild ride and action packed, and as I said, full of conspiracy and also incorporated Botswanan mythology/pantheon. There are very lengthy interruptions of internal monologue, however, that at times had me struggling to remember what was even happening before it started.
Like a combination of Altered Carbon, Handmaid's Tale, and The Truman Show. Major commentary on bodily autonomy and misogyny, class privilege, but much of it got lost in the action.
I listened to this ALC via Libro.fm and thought Cristel Mutombo did a great job, her voice is dynamic and it was easy to differentiate between characters, she is super emotive!
Graphic: Car accident, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexual content, Classism, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcohol, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Rape, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Gun violence and Transphobia
gypsynyx91's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Violence and Gore
careinthelibrary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Drug use, Alcohol, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Body horror, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Trafficking