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marmaladereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
This book is 50% vibes, set in a dystopian futuristic city that is run by crime syndicates with extreme income inequality and in a post climate catastrophe world where most world governments have collapsed. The book follows 5ish seemingly unrelated characters and their varied perspectives of the city - some are rich, poor, criminals, government workers. Most of the characters are queer, and the book is incredibly queer normative despite taking place with a background of a sexually transmitted and fatal pandemic reminiscent of HIV (which the government ignores). So the setting is incredibly interesting and the vibes and atmosphere established dominate the book.
However the plot is quite thin. It took probably 60% of the book for the plot to truly emerge, and when it did finally all come together, I found it somewhat underwhelming. Characters that were pretty interesting as individuals in earlier chapters kind of fell apart in terms of character depth and personality when they were thrown into group situations in later chapters, and a lot of the relationships lacked the emotional charge that should have come with long awaited reunions and the revelations that came with them. A lot of the big mysteries set up throughout the book also fell kind of flat for me when they were finally revealed.
Overall I would rate this book 5 stars for vibes and 2 stars for plot.
However the plot is quite thin. It took probably 60% of the book for the plot to truly emerge, and when it did finally all come together, I found it somewhat underwhelming. Characters that were pretty interesting as individuals in earlier chapters kind of fell apart in terms of character depth and personality when they were thrown into group situations in later chapters, and a lot of the relationships lacked the emotional charge that should have come with long awaited reunions and the revelations that came with them. A lot of the big mysteries set up throughout the book also fell kind of flat for me when they were finally revealed.
Overall I would rate this book 5 stars for vibes and 2 stars for plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Police brutality, Abandonment, and Deportation
accidentallyinspace's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
First up: excellent world building, fascinating and evocative imagery of a seabound city after the death of the world. Miller is great with the little details here and there (the color of the geothermal heat pipes, the human element of ramshackle noodle stands popping up everywhere) that makes the place feel real, gritty and raw.
However, the actual characters and plot developments I cannot wrap my head around. It often feels like characters make decisions that go against their interests or character simply to move the plot along, or they experience tragic loss and death and start joking around 10 minutes later. It honestly feels as if maybe 15% of the scenes / time in this story have been cut away, with the remainder stitched together, so that things just hitch and jump from one development to the next leaving you with this profound sense of vertigo and confusion.
The worst of these (spoiler):Ankit goes to Go to sell out Barron, someone she likes and respects, in order to maybe get back at Podlove. She is headed off by Go's second in command, Dao, who is characterized earlier as being level headed and good with people. Dao explains that Ankit can't just waltz in and see Go, given the current danger to her, which is very reasonable, and asks her to tell him what she wants. Instead of doing this very reasonable thing, Ankit, a very reasonable person, sprints away, causing a pointless chase scene, which he wins. He pins her and begins asking who sent her, assuming very reasonably that she's a particularly shitty assassin. Masaaraq, who has been sheltering in Go's ship, shows up and murders him.
Later, they dump his body unceremoniously in front of Go, toss off some shit about him trying to kill Ankit without any explanation, and then almost immediately ask for Go's help rescuing their mother. Which Go agrees to. Nothing in this sequence makes sense from any of these characters, other than Dao.
So... Yeah. Enjoy the world, struggle through the plot.
However, the actual characters and plot developments I cannot wrap my head around. It often feels like characters make decisions that go against their interests or character simply to move the plot along, or they experience tragic loss and death and start joking around 10 minutes later. It honestly feels as if maybe 15% of the scenes / time in this story have been cut away, with the remainder stitched together, so that things just hitch and jump from one development to the next leaving you with this profound sense of vertigo and confusion.
The worst of these (spoiler):
Later, they dump his body unceremoniously in front of Go, toss off some shit about him trying to kill Ankit without any explanation, and then almost immediately ask for Go's help rescuing their mother. Which Go agrees to. Nothing in this sequence makes sense from any of these characters, other than Dao.
So... Yeah. Enjoy the world, struggle through the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
sweetpotatofries's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Mental illness and Murder
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
aardwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
Climate change dystopia in which horrible things happen endlessly, but the ultimate choice is hope. The world of Blackfish City is a world that has ended and is beginning to make itself again. The book rejects all easy answers but still loops back to the possibility of a better future. Its patchwork of viewpoints and intertwined themes of family and choice are powerfully executed and throw the reader into the City Without a Map.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Murder
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