lilysmomreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
johnwillson's review
4.0
An LGBTQ youth of the Christian Republic is banished to the gay islands to live a hard-scrabble life in the wilds with others of their "kind." Except it turns out that the feared Rainbow Islands are a utopia of abundance and new technologies, not to mention acceptance, compassion and love.
Light and enjoyable - like a healthy snack that turns out to be delicious, too.
The origin of this novel is perhaps as interesting as the book itself. An internet troll proposed that homosexuality is unnatural because islands of gays and lesbians would die out due to a zero birth rate. The response to this post was a spontaneous public brainstorming session on the obvious problems with this simplistic proposal (bisexuals could breed, and which island would they go on, anyway?), and the benefits of such a society. The respondents - and ultimately this author Devin Harnois - forged a positive and inclusive utopia of islands and airships, full of love and adventure and people living well outside of the closed-minded society that expelled them.
The style and structure of the book are merely competent. But the pace is brisk, the characters are likable, and the outcome is satisfying. I recommend it.
Light and enjoyable - like a healthy snack that turns out to be delicious, too.
The origin of this novel is perhaps as interesting as the book itself. An internet troll proposed that homosexuality is unnatural because islands of gays and lesbians would die out due to a zero birth rate. The response to this post was a spontaneous public brainstorming session on the obvious problems with this simplistic proposal (bisexuals could breed, and which island would they go on, anyway?), and the benefits of such a society. The respondents - and ultimately this author Devin Harnois - forged a positive and inclusive utopia of islands and airships, full of love and adventure and people living well outside of the closed-minded society that expelled them.
The style and structure of the book are merely competent. But the pace is brisk, the characters are likable, and the outcome is satisfying. I recommend it.
leahkarge's review
4.0
3.5 stars
This book was a fun adventure and a story of revolution which is very easy to relate with in the current political climate.
Read the full review on my blog.
This book was a fun adventure and a story of revolution which is very easy to relate with in the current political climate.
Read the full review on my blog.
araleith's review
2.0
Would have given it three stars but the fact the author just kinda ended it suddenly after the war with no real resolution to y'know, defeating a whole country and all that really soured things for me.
finleyfrogreads's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
manth1975's review
5.0
A lovely story of discovery
After finding my way to this book via the Web post, I have to say I really enjoyed it. I'm a fantasy reader anyway and I found the book beautiful and enlightening. Will be reading more by this author
After finding my way to this book via the Web post, I have to say I really enjoyed it. I'm a fantasy reader anyway and I found the book beautiful and enlightening. Will be reading more by this author
geminipenguin's review
5.0
I loved this book! Sure, it was a little whimsical at times - but it gave me the feel goods in all the right places. lol I'll be looking into more books by this writer! <3
dwarrowdams's review
5.0
This is the literary representation of how it feels to see a rainbow after a rainstorm.
fish_beholder's review
3.0
Look, it's the Tumblr post writ large. It's silly, heavy handed and the climax of the story doesn't get nearly enough time, but if you read that post and thought "geez I want more" this is for you.