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deathmetalheron's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
intorilex's review against another edition
3.0
A wonderful but depressing story. This novella is about a cult on a submarine who is determined to bring the end of the world. The people are mindlessly following a religious belief that by doing so they will be sent to heaven. Remy is a brave young singer who slowly unravels how things are not what they seem. Her drive and bravery was a dim hope in this claustropbic tale.
"It does not matter what you think, what you feel, how you act, so long as it is God’s work."
A very interesting premise, with a clear lesson on how destructive and evil blind faith can be. But while I enjoyed the story, the bleak experiences of the characters made me rush to the end. Beautiful prose that needed a bit more for it to stand out. A quick intriguing read for those who enjoy end post apocalyptic takes with unique takes.
"It does not matter what you think, what you feel, how you act, so long as it is God’s work."
A very interesting premise, with a clear lesson on how destructive and evil blind faith can be. But while I enjoyed the story, the bleak experiences of the characters made me rush to the end. Beautiful prose that needed a bit more for it to stand out. A quick intriguing read for those who enjoy end post apocalyptic takes with unique takes.
vizira's review
4.0
A fresh take on a nuclear apocalypse that also manages to avoid the novella sin of not feeling like a complete story; I for one was perfectly satisfied with the somewhat open-ended final chapter. I found the prose to be incredibly evocative, especially concerning the sounds of the submarine and whales combined with the hymns Remy sang. It felt like I was there.
I do however have one incredibly petty criticism, namely that there were too many ellipsis in the dialogue! For some reason, once I noticed this I couldn’t unsee it and felt rather taken out of the story whenever they were used.
Thank you netgalley for the arc.
I do however have one incredibly petty criticism, namely that there were too many ellipsis in the dialogue! For some reason, once I noticed this I couldn’t unsee it and felt rather taken out of the story whenever they were used.
Thank you netgalley for the arc.
extremelysoundyoungpotato's review
4.0
Flew through this short novel. Four stars for the writing, execution, and the Latin. Thematically sound and interesting. The writing is sparse and succint, with just enough descriptors to keep it in the realm of the real and out of the ethereal. A full story following a single plotline, supplemented by a good ole nuclear fallout. Overall excellent authorial choices. My only minor twinge is that one small plot point could be taken in a bisexual way. Whether the author intended or no, I do not read that plot point that way. Also, read plot summaries at your own risk. I would have rathered the blurb be more close-breasted, as the novel is so short.
librarian_of_trantor's review
4.0
The beginning of this book is wonderfully atmospheric. Choristers singing liturgical hymns in Latin the bowels of a decrepit nuclear sub carrying the last remaining missile after World War III, or maybe IV. Mutinous religious fanatics control the sub and have named that one missile "The Last Judgement". Draw your own conclusions about their intentions.
The atmosphere thins a bit as the story progresses. It had to in order to make room for a plot. That plot is tight, with twists that ring true. And the author is able to slip in some exposition mid story when the first person narrator, who know nothing of the state of the world, meets a "topsider". And that person turns out not to be totally reliable either, in a way that makes sense for her character. And the end is open ended but still satisfying.
The atmosphere thins a bit as the story progresses. It had to in order to make room for a plot. That plot is tight, with twists that ring true. And the author is able to slip in some exposition mid story when the first person narrator, who know nothing of the state of the world, meets a "topsider". And that person turns out not to be totally reliable either, in a way that makes sense for her character. And the end is open ended but still satisfying.
gilmoremk's review
4.0
This could easily have been about a spaceship that left a dying world behind, and I'm a sucker for those stories, so this drew me in as a fun twist on that premise. And I'm never going to say no to a post-apocalyptic story about a religious doomsday cult.
stiricide's review against another edition
3.0
Eh, fine? I think I'm over weird christian apocalypse cults.
schnaucl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Chronic illness, Death, War, Murder, Cancer, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence and Blood