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lawbooks600's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
Representation: Latino/a, Asian and implied Brown, Black, multiracial and First Australian/Canadian characters
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read The Last Cuentista for a while but never got around till now. I saw it a few months back at a library before someone transferred it to another. Months later, I transferred it back for me to read it. The blurb made The Last Cuentista seem intriguing. It appeared that the book was a dystopian targeted at a younger audience. I've read novels like that, with mixed results. Fortunately, this one was enjoyable.
Spoilers ahead. I've warned you.
It starts with the first character I see, Petra Peña, leaving Earth in 2061 before a comet destroyed it and most of humanity. Only a select few get to board spaceships whose destination is Sagan, a new home planet for humanity to restart themselves. The only catch is that during the journey, an organisation formed: The Collective, whose sole mission is to erase all traces of Earth so no one remembers their history when they arrive on the new celestial body, all in the guise of removing all struggles, wars and pain. Only a few pages in, Petra discovers the organisation has purged her parents, much to her dismay, but conveniently, she survives, alongside a handful of other minor characters. The Last Cuentista shines in its intriguing worldbuilding and how realistic the science fiction elements are, like when I saw how humans have built spaceships, but none of them can go faster than the speed of light--they haven't discovered wormholes yet so it takes a while for them to get anywhere. The middle was enjoyable, but the conclusion was less so. All the characters were likable, but I couldn't connect or relate to them. They didn't have much depth beyond their protagonistic nature. At least it was heartwarming as Petra escapes The Collective and hears another community (the first settlers,) but it unsatisfyingly peters out.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read The Last Cuentista for a while but never got around till now. I saw it a few months back at a library before someone transferred it to another. Months later, I transferred it back for me to read it. The blurb made The Last Cuentista seem intriguing. It appeared that the book was a dystopian targeted at a younger audience. I've read novels like that, with mixed results. Fortunately, this one was enjoyable.
Spoilers ahead. I've warned you.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Genocide, and Murder
Full trigger warnings: Implied murder and death of parents in the past and mass death mentioned, near-death experienceklra's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I really thought this was going to be about a Latina storyteller, so imagine my surprise when it was Science Fiction. I loved that it was cursory on the "why" they're going to space and really focused on the mission itself. The main character has macular degeneration, and she is on the ship illegally since the idea behind the chosen is that they're the best humanity has to offer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child death, Xenophobia, Genocide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism
rennybenny's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide and Death of parent
ramblingravioli's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
dolores_madil's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I love this book for the main message but also the under messages I was able to pick up as an adult. I also loved as a writer the message of storytelling and how it is apart of who we are. I defiantly think this is a upper middle grade though I also don't read many middle but it tackles some thought concepts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Slavery, Genocide, and Racism
crizzle's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Drug use, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Genocide
wellreadandhalfdead's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.5
I really enjoyed this one! I thought a lot of the language used was awkward - nobody used contractions for some reason. But the characters were cute, and the idea of stories helping remind us of our humanity was an important message. Petra as a character bothered me a bit, as she was constantly flip-flopping in her decisions. However, the plot was a nail-biter and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, it was entertaining and I'll be checking out more of the author's books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide
fluidmarainehayden's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide and Ableism
kalehouse's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
(audio book)
i really enjoyed! definitely middle grade but still very entertaining. sci-fi/dystopian future with child(ren) as protags.
i really enjoyed! definitely middle grade but still very entertaining. sci-fi/dystopian future with child(ren) as protags.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Grief, Death of parent, and Confinement
Moderate: Chronic illness and Medical content
a_ab's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-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? No
4.25
Maybe even 4.5*s. This is a great book about the ultimate truth that no noble goal can ever be reached through ugly methods.
There were elements I found clunky and too convenient and the writing seemed rough in patches - like awkward translations or rough draft passages that slipped through the editorial reviews.
This book gave me a very nostalgic feeling - it reminded me of the early 20th century literature I read in college - utopian cautionary tales and the stories about the dangers of complacent uniformity.
The saddest part about this book, which is already full of sadness and grief, is that it is as relevant and necessary today as similar stories were nearly 100 years ago.
There were elements I found clunky and too convenient and the writing seemed rough in patches - like awkward translations or rough draft passages that slipped through the editorial reviews.
This book gave me a very nostalgic feeling - it reminded me of the early 20th century literature I read in college - utopian cautionary tales and the stories about the dangers of complacent uniformity.
The saddest part about this book, which is already full of sadness and grief, is that it is as relevant and necessary today as similar stories were nearly 100 years ago.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Confinement, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide and Murder
Minor: Vomit