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paguroidea's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Definitely a unique take on themes i’ve seen before! I wish it had been a bit longer and more fleshed out, maybe even a start to a series. The ending is really rushed but overall I liked it.
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Rape
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
When She Woke had me thoroughly absorbed from the get-go. It’s set in a dystopian near future where the lines between church and state have been virtually eradicated, and the world-building is fabulous. And all too plausible. It’s almost a cross between The Scarlet Letter and The Handmaid’s Tale. Hannah has been convicted of murder for having an abortion. Her sentence is to be “chromed” - have her skin colour genetically altered for a period of sixteen years and a thirty day period of imprisonment, total isolation in her cell during which her every move is broadcast to the public. I enjoyed following Hannah’s journey, especially because she was proactive, not passive. As always I appreciated seeing religious hypocrisy highlighted. I felt that the first half of the book was the strongest, and I wasn’t convinced by an event or two in the latter third. But overall a fabulous if frightening read.
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
rebyreadsandwrites's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-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
2.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia and Pregnancy
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