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lakeofstars's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
this book was hand catered for me i think
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Violence, Colonisation, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
dlrosebyh's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- 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
Simon Jimenez, I was not familiar with your game.
I am not the same person pre-TVB and post-TVB. I’ve been hesitant to read The Vanished Birds because a lot of reviews said it was boring, and for me, no, it really wasn’t. And yes, it might be slow, and the chapters are long, but the pacing made perfect sense.
A lot of people compare The Vanished Birds to the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers. And if you know me, you know I loved that series. While that series is healing and comforting, this book will tear your heart into pieces, throw it against the wall, run it over by a truck, break it even more with a hammer, and pierce it with a sword. I was expecting a simple space found family moment, but noo, Jimenez had to break my heart a million times. My heart broke for every character in this story.
This book is so rich in many ways. The characters, the plot, the world building, the atmosphere, everything. I was so shocked to find out that this is Jimenez’s DEBUT NOVEL. Only a mastermind can do such. I loved how he used scientific explanations for the progression and the effects of capitalism. Those footnotes really intrigued me.
Character wise, I have a question for you, Mr. Jimenez. Did you somehow go through my brain while writing Nia? Because why is she SO ME. The way she tries to protect everyone and is willing to give up anything just to keep everyone safe made me sob so hard. I loved how she treated Ahro, and Ahro, my baby, I will protect you with everything I have. And don’t even get me started on DanaFumiko because I cried over them so many times.
In short, please read this book. Any bad mouth against it shall fall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
Minor: Suicide attempt
avacadosocks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gore, and Body horror
Minor: Suicide attempt and Sexual content
s_teichman's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Body horror
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Cannibalism
bookgrrl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
The last 1/4 of this book broke my heart
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Body horror, and Colonisation
laurareads87's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Beautiful, devastating, and brilliant. The Vanished Birds has a lot that I love: strong character development, an interesting multi-POV structure, and a clear anti-capitalist spirit. This does not read like a debut novel; I can't wait to read more from Simon Jimenez.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Colonisation, Torture, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death, and Medical content
a_kt's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was so imaginative, so beautifully written, it felt like I was in a dream every time I sat down to read. Jimenez's writing style is impeccable, he really draws you in with the ethereal prose and keeps you interested with the intriguing setting, lovable characters, and mysterious twists. I really really enjoyed this book, its everything I want in a sci-fi story: not mind-numbingly complicated with millennia-long backstories and lore, and not overly simplistic with a cheap futuristic "wash". The themes were very relevant to modern day, making this "future" of humanity seem realistic and grounded, but unique enough to feel fresh and tense.
I think the only reason I wouldn't give it the full 5 stars is that there were portions of the book that were just a little too languid for my tastes, most notably the ending. Although I can see what the author was going for- trying to steadily ramp up the tension and build to a moment where you weren't sure what would happen- but unfortunately the build up was a bit drawn out which caused the conclusion to just not hit as hard and it should have.
Aside from that minor criticism, I'm so so glad I read this book and I can't wait to add Jimenez's other works to the TBR pile.
I think the only reason I wouldn't give it the full 5 stars is that there were portions of the book that were just a little too languid for my tastes, most notably the ending. Although I can see what the author was going for- trying to steadily ramp up the tension and build to a moment where you weren't sure what would happen- but unfortunately the build up was a bit drawn out which caused the conclusion to just not hit as hard and it should have.
Aside from that minor criticism, I'm so so glad I read this book and I can't wait to add Jimenez's other works to the TBR pile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Torture, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship
srm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Violence
jaredt's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
An unexpected and well explored journey over the years.
This is quite a creative take, dealing with the nature of space travel and the years that could be lost to it. Lots of buildup, backstory, and lore woven together to make all the pieces fit. After the first chapter I knew it was going to be a special, different kind of story than what I'm used to in the genre.
We meet lots of folks, and no matter how long they're in the pages, their roles carry weight, they feel like they have their own stories, and it's just what bits we get to see.
I will say this story, because of the way it is structured, probably won't be for folks that want a more typical 'we are going to follow this group of folks and ONLY this group and see how their stories end'. Everything is intertwined, and there are main characters that carry most of the way, but not everyone stays together, and its just by nature of the universe this story lives in, and the amount of years we follow through. The ending packs a weighted punch, but isn't needlessly punishing.
Overall, this is a story I really enjoyed, and think it is one that I will grow to love even moreso over time.
This is quite a creative take, dealing with the nature of space travel and the years that could be lost to it. Lots of buildup, backstory, and lore woven together to make all the pieces fit. After the first chapter I knew it was going to be a special, different kind of story than what I'm used to in the genre.
We meet lots of folks, and no matter how long they're in the pages, their roles carry weight, they feel like they have their own stories, and it's just what bits we get to see.
I will say this story, because of the way it is structured, probably won't be for folks that want a more typical 'we are going to follow this group of folks and ONLY this group and see how their stories end'. Everything is intertwined, and there are main characters that carry most of the way, but not everyone stays together, and its just by nature of the universe this story lives in, and the amount of years we follow through. The ending packs a weighted punch, but isn't needlessly punishing.
Overall, this is a story I really enjoyed, and think it is one that I will grow to love even moreso over time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Murder and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content, Genocide, and Body horror
In relation to body horror,quinnjuliac's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was incredible. Sweeping story of finding nonbiological family and the ties that bind us, in a dysphoric future where the earth has been obliterated by climate change and misuse, and other worlds are created and then colonized by capitalism. Really beautiful, highly recommend. The first half seems to be more about the dysphoric world created by the author and traveling through it, and the second half is really about relationships and the love we find and lose, and how worth it these losses are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Slavery, Child abuse, Torture, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Death, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit