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xeniaaaaaah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse
lostwaterbottle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There’s different flavors of alien sci fi. In this one, the aliens evolve with many of the same flaws of humanity. I find that hard to believe because is supposes a predisposition/nature of intelligent life for violence. From that perspective this reads more as a story using aliens to warn readers of the danger of right wing politics.
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.
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 that the sex between her and Kaveh when she was clearly distressed and not in the right headspace to give consent, was never addressed but we just moved past it. <\spoiler>
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.
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.
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 that
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Minor: Domestic abuse
torisushinyourpants's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
There’s a trigger warning that I didn’t remember and I listened to it on an audiobook so the tw is also
there are shootings
This is kind of an emotional roller coaster. It is very good, but very intense.
This is kind of an emotional roller coaster. It is very good, but very intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Racism, Suicide, and Islamophobia
Minor: Antisemitism