The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
fifth_magpie'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
2.0
Graphic: Self harm and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Antisemitism and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Islamophobia, Rape, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
lostwaterbottle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Some readers might feel there’s too much politics in this story, but I think the author is pretty accurate in imagining how the US would react to first contact. If immigrants at the border move us closer to authoritarianism and the government actively supports the genocide in Palestine, then of course that rhetoric would be used toward ETs.Â
I did appreciate the depiction of PTSD in Cora and what she was going through as a young person with a traumatic past. Her character felt real and believable to me. I’m disappointed thatÂ
It was a little slow for me in the second half- I didn’t even tear up at the end tbh. I’m used to more dramatic and smutty books tho. If read the next one. I hope to see a redemption arc for Sol and Cora’s family. I’m also curious as to how humanity preps for meeting the superorganism.Â
Graphic: Violence and Self harm
Moderate: Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Addiction
Minor: Domestic abuse
emilb'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
4.25
Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Antisemitism, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Suicide, Islamophobia, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
meremeth'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
Untreated PTSD is a debilitating experience, it turns you so disfunctional. It felt nice to read a character that is actually experiencing the effects of the serious trauma she went through in the first book. (Rare for sci fi!!)Â
Also, I genuinely felt politically challenged by this book. It guides you through some really interesting political thought.
I can't wait for the next book, I'm so desperate for more from this series. This one's a definite improvement on the first book, which makes sense as it was a debut!Â
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
Moderate: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, and Forced institutionalization
kanonkita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
That being said, maybe avoid the audiobook unless you really enjoy listening to tremulous female voices shouting "No no no" over and over again ever few minutes. The computerized sound effect that was put over the Amygdalans' voices in the audiobook could also be grating at times and made it difficult to hear them if there was any background noise while I was listening.
Overall, I would recommend it, but do pay attention to the content warning Ellis provides at the beginning of the novel.Â
Also, a note that I have not seen this book listed as LGBTQ+ in many places, which I can only chalk up to bi erasure. Cora is bisexual, and it seems unfair that this gets overlooked just because she has a heterosexual romance, especially given that it occurs alongside her very queer relationship with an alien who only uses he/him pronouns out of convenience.
Graphic: Confinement, Body horror, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gun violence, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Gore, Suicide attempt, Islamophobia, Addiction, Death, Blood, Xenophobia, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
libras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cursing, and Suicide
Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Antisemitism, Death, Gun violence, and Alcoholism
Minor: Infertility and Fire/Fire injury
_doze_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Grief, Gore, Mental illness, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Antisemitism, Self harm, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual violence
moonspren'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
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Eating disorder, Grief, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
cfell'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
4.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Suicide, Police brutality, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Blood, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Genocide
softanimal's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Self harm, Grief, Islamophobia, Gun violence, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Violence, Suicide, Racial slurs, Mass/school shootings, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Racism, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Torture, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Deportation, Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Genocide, and Xenophobia