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theelizabethjoy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was so very difficult for me to comprehend at times, I had to go back through and reread some of it because I would finish a chapter and just go "huh". With that said, it was very good, ended much happier than I anticipated. Definitely a good story but be prepared.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, Violence, Toxic friendship, Death, War, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
quorumbutton's review against another edition
While the world/premise seems interesting (AI religious trauma, transhumanism and cyborgs, etc etc), the execution was more bewildering than engaging. This was an example of "drop the reader in the world without explanation" that didn't work for me.
The characters also didn't really draw me in -- I wanted to like Sunai, but his intense self-loathing and self-destructive behavior turned me off. Honestly everyone in the book just seemed like they were miserable, traumatized, and angry. Coupled with my personal squick of mindfuckery being the main plot-component driving a story forward, I dropped this.
The characters also didn't really draw me in -- I wanted to like Sunai, but his intense self-loathing and self-destructive behavior turned me off. Honestly everyone in the book just seemed like they were miserable, traumatized, and angry. Coupled with my personal squick of mindfuckery being the main plot-component driving a story forward, I dropped this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
mordshunger's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This one is hard to rate. It certainly made me feel things, and I feel pissed off. Immaculate vibes and strong characters but is it a net-positive? Reading this dealt me psychic damage. If fiction can be violent this was the Most Violent encounter I had with a book so far.
While it felt like it wanted to say things about religious trauma and trust and betrayal, I fail to see how it did say anything meaningful about them. It feels dangerous to read for people who struggle with upholding boundaries to people who have abused them. I don't even have the right words for a proper CW so I'll just say the lack of consent is disgusting and the immediate forgiveness of the same sickening. It really tampered my enjoyment of the story. The apologetics of an ever understanding, self-neglecting and self-hating POV is just too much.
In general, there is a very inflationary use of love in this book. I understand what this is going for and that is why I think it is dangerous. People who love deeply will see themselves in this and it's not great. This is bad. If love is just a verb for one person and a weapon and exploit for everyone else, it becomes meaningless to even call it such. Fuck that forever.
Chronological impressions:
Welcome to the religious trauma struggle bus. The vibes are chef's kiss but also vague and referential at all times, it feels like I got oil in one eye forever.
This book y'all, it's really just a pile of the worst people you know. My number one pick for most trustworthy guy in this is the not-so-informed-consent AI splinter and I'm sure they will try to kill everyone.
Sinai, Jin und Veyadi consistently bring the energy of an EMT driver/student in exam crunch after three consecutive shifts.
I hate All of Them, but I hate Imaru most. If this bitch doesn't die I'm not reading the next book. Can't believe there is immediate forgiveness, understanding and love after the ultimate betrayal.
I've read some reviews of some very confused people who get lost in who betrayed who first and which plots overlap and let me just say it doesn't matter who betrays who when they all do. They all do! They're the worst!!! And they keep asking more of him. Veyadi, et Tu?
While it felt like it wanted to say things about religious trauma and trust and betrayal, I fail to see how it did say anything meaningful about them. It feels dangerous to read for people who struggle with upholding boundaries to people who have abused them. I don't even have the right words for a proper CW so I'll just say the lack of consent is disgusting and the immediate forgiveness of the same sickening. It really tampered my enjoyment of the story. The apologetics of an ever understanding, self-neglecting and self-hating POV is just too much.
In general, there is a very inflationary use of love in this book. I understand what this is going for and that is why I think it is dangerous. People who love deeply will see themselves in this and it's not great. This is bad. If love is just a verb for one person and a weapon and exploit for everyone else, it becomes meaningless to even call it such. Fuck that forever.
Chronological impressions:
Welcome to the religious trauma struggle bus. The vibes are chef's kiss but also vague and referential at all times, it feels like I got oil in one eye forever.
This book y'all, it's really just a pile of the worst people you know. My number one pick for most trustworthy guy in this is the not-so-informed-consent AI splinter and I'm sure they will try to kill everyone.
Sinai, Jin und Veyadi consistently bring the energy of an EMT driver/student in exam crunch after three consecutive shifts.
I hate All of Them, but I hate Imaru most. If this bitch doesn't die I'm not reading the next book. Can't believe there is immediate forgiveness, understanding and love after the ultimate betrayal.
I've read some reviews of some very confused people who get lost in who betrayed who first and which plots overlap and let me just say it doesn't matter who betrays who when they all do. They all do! They're the worst!!! And they keep asking more of him. Veyadi, et Tu?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Murder, Grief, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Gore, War, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Abandonment, and Blood
Do not read this if consent is important to you to be able to enjoy a book. Just skip it.
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