natrix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
And normally I don't rate book 1 star if it kept my interest long enough, but I will redact some points for
Spoiler
using a false narrative used by anti-abortion groups (remorse and grieve of losing 'a child') as a throwaway line that is not even important and are never even revisited in the story at all..Graphic: Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Car accident, and Homophobia
Moderate: Abortion
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Det här var en bokcirkelbok, men jag hade förmodligen läst den ändå eftersom den fått mycket uppmärksamhet. Den handlar till stor del om dataspel, programmering och hela spelvärlden och det är egentligen inget för mig, men även de som inte har det intresset har gett boken strålande recensioner. Så kanske hade jag lite för höga förväntningar? Jag väntade hela tiden på att det där "magiska" skulle dyka upp, den ibland oförklarliga känslan man får när man läser en riktigt bra bok. Tyvärr fick jag vänta förgäves. Det var en helt okej bok, men jag hade nog väntat mig något mer. Eller något annat. Jag vet inte riktigt.
Det jag ändå uppskattade med boken var karaktärerna. Jag hade visserligen lust att skaka om dem ibland och be dem skärpa sig, men att de var långt ifrån felfria gjorde dem mänskliga och trovärdiga. Sam och Sadie har en komplicerad relation till varandra, men den övergår aldrig till ett kärleksförhållande. Min favorit är ändå Marx, som från början är Sams vän men så småningom även blir Sadies, samt en viktig kugge i spelföretaget de bygger upp. Marx är medlaren och den som sköter allt i bakgrunden. För att anknyta till gaming-språket så är han en NPC, en non-player character, en underordnad karaktär i ett spel. Men utan Marx skulle det ha blivit en helt annan berättelse.
Ytterligare ett plus får boken för bra representation. Både Sam och Marx har asiatiskt påbrå och Sam är dessutom fysiskt handikappad. Sadie är tjej i en mansdominerad spelvärld och judinna (även om det sistnämnda inte har någon större betydelse annat än i början av boken). Det finns även ett par homosexuella bikaraktärer. Så för att summera så tyckte jag inte att det var bortkastad tid att läsa den här boken, men den kändes alldeles för lång.
Graphic: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Cancer
literarylily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Death, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Suicide, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Minor: Abortion
annadrinksmilk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
rosesandstuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Racism, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Cancer
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Physical abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Misogyny, Bullying, Xenophobia, Abortion, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
leonormsousa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Vomit, Suicide, Physical abuse, Cultural appropriation, Violence, Abortion, Alcohol, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexism, Car accident, Bullying, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Death, Mental illness, Gun violence, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Ableism, Animal death, Antisemitism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Misogyny, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abortion, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Drug use, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Sadie's grandparents are Holocaust survivors, and Sadie's pre-Unfair game is about Nazi collaborators.the_real_al_cal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Grief, Hate crime, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Car accident, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Blood, Drug use, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
megmahoney1's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mass/school shootings and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Mental illness, Medical content, Infidelity, Homophobia, Hate crime, Drug use, Ableism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Toxic relationship