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A review by katethepodtherapyartist
Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I wanted to like this book, I did. The plot sounded interesting, and the cover art was like an inviting beacon saying “read me!”
The story follows Milo, a man who has lived 9995 lives, and has 5 more to reach Perfection in the afterlife or be sent to oblivion. But none of that has mattered to him before because Death (aka - Suzie) is his only reason for being. The only reason he keeps being reincarnated and dying. She is his love. So now Milo has 5 chances to figure how to become one with everything and get it right.
It was overall not my cup of tea. The pacing was all over the place for me. Suzie, the love interest, is barely in it and we know nothing about her. I feel like for as central to the plot as Milo trying to reach Perfection and be with her forever, I know very little about their love for each other, their history, etc. I was told they love each other, but I didn’t see it, I didn’t feel it - I was told, not shown. I felt like I was watching a movie where things happen, but I feel 0 connection to any of the characters. Milo is a deeply flawed, and often sexist, character, but that doesn’t matter because he’s a cool, wise, awesome dude once he dies (please note the sarcasm). Actions in life do have an impact on what kind of house you have in the afterlife and what/who you’re reincarnated as in your next life, but it fell flat for me. Milo has countless iterations of being a terrible person and the most he gets as punishment is a bad house and waking up in a well. How terrible.
There were some interesting passages and quotes, but overall it was not a satisfying read for me. Definitely won’t be a reread, as I found much of the book deeply uncomfortable and leaving me feeling gross. I’m not a reader that needs or uses trigger warnings, but boy howdy is this a book that needs them for a lot of readers.
The story follows Milo, a man who has lived 9995 lives, and has 5 more to reach Perfection in the afterlife or be sent to oblivion. But none of that has mattered to him before because Death (aka - Suzie) is his only reason for being. The only reason he keeps being reincarnated and dying. She is his love. So now Milo has 5 chances to figure how to become one with everything and get it right.
It was overall not my cup of tea. The pacing was all over the place for me. Suzie, the love interest, is barely in it and we know nothing about her. I feel like for as central to the plot as Milo trying to reach Perfection and be with her forever, I know very little about their love for each other, their history, etc. I was told they love each other, but I didn’t see it, I didn’t feel it - I was told, not shown. I felt like I was watching a movie where things happen, but I feel 0 connection to any of the characters. Milo is a deeply flawed, and often sexist, character, but that doesn’t matter because he’s a cool, wise, awesome dude once he dies (please note the sarcasm). Actions in life do have an impact on what kind of house you have in the afterlife and what/who you’re reincarnated as in your next life, but it fell flat for me. Milo has countless iterations of being a terrible person and the most he gets as punishment is a bad house and waking up in a well. How terrible.
There were some interesting passages and quotes, but overall it was not a satisfying read for me. Definitely won’t be a reread, as I found much of the book deeply uncomfortable and leaving me feeling gross. I’m not a reader that needs or uses trigger warnings, but boy howdy is this a book that needs them for a lot of readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Torture, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, and Violence