A review by isadorawonder
The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


What does it mean to be human ? 

Casandra Khaw explores this in their new cyberpunk sci-fi novel following two people recruiting their old crew for a seemingly impossible heist. But of course literature has taught us that nothing is impossible. Nothing is smooth sailing, considering their final mission ended disastrously and their leader is much to blame. They must learn to work together again in order to save their old friend and pull off something that could possibly destroy them all. 

I'm confident that my mind is just not developed enough to understand this book because WOW the potential of greatness that I can see, but can't seem to actually feel. Khaw has a very specific writing style that is a mix of high level vocabulary and vulgarity. In the end, these two elements are mixed together to create beautiful prose full of emotional highs and devastation. Still after finishing the book, I'm not sure where I stand with this writing style. I feel like I definitely have a more positive opinion on it and it makes me intrigued to read more from this author. There is an OVERWHELMING amount of quotes I tabbed. 

Where my intelligence fails me is the confusion I faced reading the entirety of this book. I never knew where we were and most plot reveals didn't have much impact on me because I was still trying to figure out why it was so shocking in the first place. Especially that last reveal at the end. And when it came to Elise and Pimento's chapters... lets just say I was only reading words on a page and nothing else. I don't know if I can fault the author for this because this seems like a ME problem. I still liked the characters, especially Maya and Rita. I don't think I've ever read of a female manipulator character, so let's just say I understand why there are so many apologists now ahhh (and I do mean that lightly. Don't be an apologist). Rita is written so well that I felt fear myself when she entered the scene. Maya is a lovely character to get a perspective from because she's actually interesting and serves a greater purpose to the story vs. just walking through it. 

I loved how queer it was. Verdigris is a genderfluid main/side character and I never knew this was something I 
wanted so badly to see on page. I also love seeing characters question humanity and whether they have it or not. Maya is battling this question the entire novel, often finding herself question her emotions. There is the ability to alter yourself with technology and it really pushes that idea if someone who is so altered can still be considered human. Honestly just a die hard of conversations like this. 

I would definitely just check this one out yourself to see if it is for you. 
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