The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
mconroy9137'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Murder, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
c_serpent'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
Review to come.
Total score: 5/5 stars
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
kates_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The characters were so unique and original, while still being realistic. The tension between Franny and the fisherman was beautifully written — as she actually gets to know these characters, her once firm convictions become less black and white. I think the author captured the complexities and nuances of humanity. No one is all good or all evil; we are all just trying to get through it and find some beauty along the way.
Franny’s life is full of trauma and most of the book immerses the reader in her depression. Yet the story ends with hope, which I believe is what the authors wants us to take away. The world can be cruel and we need to be help accountable for the harm we have caused it, but we must not lose hope for if we do we won’t work towards making it better.
The non-linear timeline of the novel was interesting and made it feel more mysterious. However, the revelation was a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, the story made you feel the darkness but it was a thought-provoking and tender read.
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Miscarriage, Murder, and Sexual assault
jess_segraves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I guess in the end it felt too much nature, and falling into tendencies or expectations without processing them until it was too late.
Graphic: Car accident, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide attempt
sebs_gaybooks'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
mmmm, well you could say that *flash through of all Franny's questionable decisions fueled by her immense trauma*
It's been a bit of a cold period in terms of my heart being truly shattered by a book. I haven't had the soul-crushing emotions that come from a devastating read, and I was beginning to think I'd become to tough; not to fret, I do indeed still have some semblance of a heart. And this book reminded me of that fragment I do have left.
god, this book. Migrations, you son of a bitch, how DARE YOU make me feel so many things. It's a rough journey, so if any of the content warnings are triggering, please take heed when reading this. Especially
This futuristic dystopian-like world McConaghy created is honestly more terrifying then the most AI centered ones of past and recent. The idea of nearly ALL of wildlife going extinct, it's horrific. And not just because it feels so likely for our current world. The way she writes about silent forests, beaches with no seagulls and the magic of finding a cave with terns nesting. It's the conversations around conservation, but only of species that have a direct positive impact and desirability for humans. That sort of 'environmental savior' purely for the benefit of our own species.
Franny's desperate fight to see the terns, something that changes meaning with every chapter. And when we get to the end and see the birds, and we know what this means, it was just so hard to read. I have never been one to throw books across rooms with rage or intense passion, mostly because my books comes from the library, but I did gently nudge this book off my bed.
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Car accident, Blood, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Child death
amberinbookland's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Grief, Confinement, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Car accident, Blood, Miscarriage, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death of parent, and Animal death
lilifane'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
5.0
Set in a probably not so far future where climate change has caused 80% of the earth’s animals to go extinct. The last flock of Arctic Terns is about to undertake its last migration from the Arctic to Antarctica, and Franny wants to follow them. We follow Franny on her journey and get flashbacks to her life so far occasionally.
Although Franny is not always the most likeable character, I was really immersed in her story. I always wanted to know what happens next or what happened in her past. Although it’s a very slow-paced plot, it never gets boring. The writing is beautiful, melancholic and atmospheric (it was hot outside, but I was freezing with the characters). I love how the title and the story go together, and just the structure of the plot. (Which is technically non-linear, but there are so many parallels.) The plot is not always the most believable or logical, and the characters make some questionable decisions along the way. But the plot isn’t the most important part of the book anyways in my opinion. Also, it’s a sad and depressing story, but there is hope.
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
kelleywithanextrae'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
Graphic: Death of parent, Car accident, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Pregnancy, Child death, Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abandonment, Confinement, Cursing, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
ekmook'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: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal death, Car accident, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
amandaformby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Animal death, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Confinement, and Abandonment