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clown_the_basking_shark 's review for:
Fable for the End of the World
by Ava Reid
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
AVA REID! WHAT THE SHIT!!!
I picked this up expecting to hate it, I tell my mom that this author (for me) has great concepts back execution, but I was still going into it with an open mind because I wanted to be optimistic and I was right to be optimistic.
This was phenomenal, I am VERY picky with what dystopias I like and this was amazing. The discussion on the objectification of women spefically online was amazingly done and just subtle enough to where people will get it without being felt like they are slammed over the head with it. And while I can enjoy that too, it only specific authors that make me fine with it (such as RF Kuang) however, others make me feel like they're treating their readers as stupid.
On to my favorite part, the characters. Inesa was amazing. She fixed all the problems I had with Marchilin in Juniper and Thorn. My main issue in that book was that she was weak, and quiet, and a punching bag, and ugly. It felt like we were meant to feel sympathy for her instead of developing her character. Inesa on the other hand was weak, had low stamina, and at points had really bad self doubt, but she's smart, and she's clever. Those traits make it so we are supposed to root for her because she's complex and not because she needs pity. Now let's talk Mel. She was absolutely wonderful, I loved her arc of realizing just how bad the Gauntlets were and her relationship with Inesa made the ending so much more painful. Mel's past also made the ending hit like a load of bricks.the fact that Keres got her memory wiped and how badly that hurt Mel, and then that same thing happened to Mel made me cry. These are amazingly well developed characters and I'm so glad I picked this up.
I picked this up expecting to hate it, I tell my mom that this author (for me) has great concepts back execution, but I was still going into it with an open mind because I wanted to be optimistic and I was right to be optimistic.
This was phenomenal, I am VERY picky with what dystopias I like and this was amazing. The discussion on the objectification of women spefically online was amazingly done and just subtle enough to where people will get it without being felt like they are slammed over the head with it. And while I can enjoy that too, it only specific authors that make me fine with it (such as RF Kuang) however, others make me feel like they're treating their readers as stupid.
On to my favorite part, the characters. Inesa was amazing. She fixed all the problems I had with Marchilin in Juniper and Thorn. My main issue in that book was that she was weak, and quiet, and a punching bag, and ugly. It felt like we were meant to feel sympathy for her instead of developing her character. Inesa on the other hand was weak, had low stamina, and at points had really bad self doubt, but she's smart, and she's clever. Those traits make it so we are supposed to root for her because she's complex and not because she needs pity. Now let's talk Mel. She was absolutely wonderful, I loved her arc of realizing just how bad the Gauntlets were and her relationship with Inesa made the ending so much more painful. Mel's past also made the ending hit like a load of bricks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Classism