A review by machen27
The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

I'll be honest, at first glance, this is a weird book. A piece of alternate history where elephants communicate with humans and somehow become irrevocably associated with ionizing radiation. Yet, it speaks at questions of how we might atone for our sins as a society, the place we have in this world, and the harms we do to each other. Bolander wastes no time and dives straight into it, pulling you along whether or not you follow until a dizzying end. It's such a short book that reading it will take no time, even though you must carefully work through it to understand what it means on even a literal level. Definitely recommended.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings