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cemeterygay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I will say this first and foremost a book about abuse and how that permanently affects your ability to make choices and navigate life and about an abuse survivor regaining autonomy while growing into adulthood. The depictions of trauma hit me incredibly close to home and watching her struggle to form independence rang very true to me. I also adored how everything being casually Jewish was handled and the additional commentary that came about surrounding how religion can be used for political purposes. I also really enjoyed the complexity given to the rebellion and the existing ship governmental structure.
I also loved the exploration of family history and wish we got a bit more of that and I really enjoyed hearing about the history of the ship. I also really adored the handling of the family, romantic, and platonic relationships and how aspects like trauma or power differences affect them.
The one thing I did not like was how an outing involving a main character was involved. Spoilers and CW for outing and homophobia: The main character does out the man that she was engaged to at the time and I do not think it was well-handled. I will be very clear that in the context of the book, it is very much portrayed as an awful and deeply unforgivable act and the main character does not receive forgiveness for it. While there is clear reasoning for why she did it, it is never used as justification. However, I just don't think enough weight was given to how truly terrible that act was especially knowing with how queerness is treated on that ship.
I will say if you are looking for a fun high stakes sci-fi mystery you will be sorely disappointed. Also if you are looking for a perfect victim that never does anything wrong and whose abuse only makes her stronger, you are looking in the wrong place. Each character in this book is painfully human and almost all of the characters in this book are not good people. However, if you are looking for an interesting exploration of abuse and the reclamation of autonomy with characters of questionable morality set in space, this is the book for you.
I also loved the exploration of family history and wish we got a bit more of that and I really enjoyed hearing about the history of the ship. I also really adored the handling of the family, romantic, and platonic relationships and how aspects like trauma or power differences affect them.
The one thing I did not like was how an outing involving a main character was involved. Spoilers and CW for outing and homophobia:
I will say if you are looking for a fun high stakes sci-fi mystery you will be sorely disappointed. Also if you are looking for a perfect victim that never does anything wrong and whose abuse only makes her stronger, you are looking in the wrong place. Each character in this book is painfully human and almost all of the characters in this book are not good people. However, if you are looking for an interesting exploration of abuse and the reclamation of autonomy with characters of questionable morality set in space, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Homophobia, Grief, Suicide, Classism, Alcoholism, Blood, Addiction, Physical abuse, Death, Murder, and Outing
Moderate: Sexual content, Cancer, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
CW: Emotional abuse, attempted murder
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