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connnnn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm
voidboi's review
- 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
In particular, the world of Laviaja was fascinating, and the conflict between Niloux and Tanaaj was the perfect framing for a refreshingly nuanced look at utopia. I both longed for a society like Laviaja, and found it difficult at many times. I was pulled in strongly and challenged by the characters and the way they think about their world.
Also, this book has an excellent acknowledgements section, which only impressed upon me more the labor and care that the author took to create such an intelligent and compassionate story.
Graphic: Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual content, Death, Gore, Drug use, Vomit, Self harm, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Classism, Colonisation, Torture, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
kmj91's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Self harm
laura_crowther's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Self harm and Incest
elelizageth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Self harm
hammy91's review
- 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
4.75
The last time period which is in the future was very hard to follow at first, but I want to believe it's because I do not know any Spanish so I had no idea of the Spanish words and conversations. But I later found out there's a glossary in the back so I was referencing it while I read which was very helpful!
As I said, the first two was amazing, I especially enjoyed Leah's story. The Mayan time period was interesting too but during the middle part I felt the plot dragged out a little bit but eventually picked up and things got INTENSE.
I love the ending which is basically all of Book 3 it was just so fun to see everything finally align together.
It wasn't an absolute five-star read but close enough! Definitely recommend!
Graphic: Death, Incest, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness and Vomit
pepper_le_puck's review
- 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? No
3.75
Graphic: Self harm
gobblebook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book has three storylines, set in 1012, 2012, and 3012. In each timeline, there is an obsession with the end of the world, and with twins. The first story is set in ancient Maya and focuses on royal twins as they come of age and take over the throne. In the second timeline, a woman from the US with Mayan heritage goes to Belize tour ancient Mayan sites, and gets caught in a conflict between twin tour guides. In 3012, the world and humanity have changed drastically - gender has been abolished, money and government don't exist, people are all nomadic and join small communities temporarily, and there is a big debate over the meaning of Xibalbá, the Mayan afterlife.
I don't shy away from dense books, so the giant glossary didn't intimidate me, but I also didn't find that I needed to refer to it because the terminology is explained pretty well.
The book moves very slowly, and not much happens. At first it seems like there's no connection between the three timelines, but by the end of the book it is clear that they are connected, although you can argue that the connection (aside from the suggestion that the twins are reincarnations of earlier twins) is just that people from each timeline grossly misinterpreted the events of the previous timeline.
I didn't find the future world to be even remotely believable, and everything about the conflict there felt very contrived. The 2012 story was annoying because the characters were one-dimensional and not very likeable. The 1012 story was perhaps the most interesting one, but again, the main characters were totally unlikeable. Then I got to the end and felt like there hadn't really been much point to the whole book.
Graphic: Self harm
nerp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Self harm and Sexual content
artsybrea's review
- 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
Moderate: Self harm