vvsmydiamonds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have a few comments. First, Ruby's mentality is difficult to grasp at the beginning of the book, and it's difficult to understand her motivations behind some of her actions and inactions. In the first 7 chapters, Ruby is telling a story, not living. Until she gets out of her first prison (physical prison, her mind is a prison too) you could count all her dialogue on your hands. We spend a lot of time in her head reading her complaints, worries, and regrets for chapters.
Secondly, the instant love with Liam is very hard to get behind. And I tried. The pair, along with Chubs and Zu spend around two weeks driving around together and despite their minimal meaningful conversation, little trust, and being literal strangers, halfway through the book they convince themselves that they're in love. It's weird because they go from 0 to 100 with like zero romantic progression. Honestly, she seems closer to Chubs, not romantically, but we watched their friendship grow through multiple conversations, positive or negative, intimate or surface. Same with Zu.
Thirdly, the IAAN disease itself just doesn't seem to make sense. If the disease emerges at puberty (which is an age range), why was nearly everyone mentioned presenting/dying at age 10 exactly? It just seemed odd for a country with millions of kids and for people whose powers are vastly different. Also, why imprison kids just to abuse them or off them? Why not just kill them all or train them all to hone their skills so you don't wipe out an entire generation? I usually don't care to nitpick that stuff but it was consistently being mentioned and the disease is a massive force in the story so I wish details around it were better developed.
Fourth, during the entire car trip in Betty, I was SO confused about how they were sitting and the layout of the car. The only constant was that while Liam was driving, Zu always sat behind him. Also, the action scenes are difficult to comprehend. I was re-reading car chases, fights, and ambushes to figure out what was going on, where people were, and how everything was happening.
Other than this, it was a great story. 3 stars for Zu, Chubs, Liam's backstory and conflict, the well-built background characters, and the fact that it reminds me of the X-men.
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Murder, Cursing, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse
veskumelooni's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child death and Child abuse
goldenslug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Slavery
dreamingpoet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child death, and Torture
herceia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Torture, Terminal illness, Sexism, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
lizardbet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Car accident, Child death, and Trafficking
katrina_5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Biphobia and Bullying
Minor: Gun violence
miaaa_lenaaa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
abibliofile's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Gore, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Rape