Scan barcode
barbarabarbara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kayteslibrary's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Torture
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
i am actually really sad to say i am not finishing this book. i think it is well written and i feel moved and compelled by the language. but i can’t see past the clear disregard of the history of the u.s.’s enslavement of Black people by basing this in a future of a 2nd american civil war between the south and the north and not one mention of slavery of Black people or white people’s interests of maintaining supremacy being a component of the south’s rebellion against the north
ellie_062's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
blankpagealex's review against another edition
4.0
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one before landing on the higher rating, mainly because this book was very thought provoking and I found myself stewing on the ending for a very long time.
The notion here is a speculative scenario where a civil war has broken out over fossil fuels and the North has essentially defeated the South and now treats them almost exactly like America treats foreign nations during wartime. In this scenario we see the birth of a terrorist and the conditions that embolden someone to commit mass murder - not a political cause or a religion, but blind, and sometimes inexplicable hatred.
The metaphor of the injustices of an occupied country - internment, military rule, even torture - was a little bit of a stretch when applied to the American South and the idea that fossil fuel policy would cause them to revolt is laughable. Race is barely mentioned, which at first made me dislike the conceit of the novel altogether because it's impossible to imagine a new civil war that isn't driven by the same factors as the last one - racism, slavery, etc. However, the more I sat with it the more I felt that racism on its surface does not make inherent sense and essentially boils down to blind, inexplicable hatred - a driving force for some of the greatest atrocities in human history.
I think the feeling of discomfort that came with following a main character as they spiral into mass murder was the point and it made me frustrated, but intrigued and is therefore a worthy read.
The notion here is a speculative scenario where a civil war has broken out over fossil fuels and the North has essentially defeated the South and now treats them almost exactly like America treats foreign nations during wartime. In this scenario we see the birth of a terrorist and the conditions that embolden someone to commit mass murder - not a political cause or a religion, but blind, and sometimes inexplicable hatred.
The metaphor of the injustices of an occupied country - internment, military rule, even torture - was a little bit of a stretch when applied to the American South and the idea that fossil fuel policy would cause them to revolt is laughable. Race is barely mentioned, which at first made me dislike the conceit of the novel altogether because it's impossible to imagine a new civil war that isn't driven by the same factors as the last one - racism, slavery, etc. However, the more I sat with it the more I felt that racism on its surface does not make inherent sense and essentially boils down to blind, inexplicable hatred - a driving force for some of the greatest atrocities in human history.
I think the feeling of discomfort that came with following a main character as they spiral into mass murder was the point and it made me frustrated, but intrigued and is therefore a worthy read.
bonfeld's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and War
edddiful's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
This was so captivating. So wonderfully written and was able to take me to where the author was describing. I love this kind of speculative sci fi and it resonated well with society as I live it now. This is one that I will probably want to reread a few times
bsmith27's review against another edition
4.0
It really great now pull up out what would happen if we had a second civil war in America family living in Mississippi in the future sarat and her sister and her brother her mother go to live in a refugee camp after the father is killed. They're ciroc comes of age and hear from mother dies dramatic music. She grows up to be quite a force try to win the war. Then her sisters killed she is tortured. North discovers that she actually didn't do anything send her to live with her brother, who is recovering someone and his family. She meets her nephew, even though it is mostly over. She decides to go to the North lake that kills most of the country.. he is done the author of the story historian. A great look at what might be