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purpl_pages's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A deadly and fast-acting virus pandemic devastates the world, and the main characters flee from Korea to Russia (for some reason...) and attempt to survive while retaining their humanity. This is pretty standard fare for post-apocalyptic fiction. But I wanted to check out this book because I'd never read a Korean book in this genre before, nor a Korean book with lesbians in the blurb.
This is a bleak story for the most part, showing how people can devolve to ugliness and ruthlessness under extreme circumstances. Specifically, this happens along gendered lines, with most of the men in the story ending up in positions of power over women and children, and enacting violence on their bodies. They get killed or raped - content warning for that. In such bleakness, Jina and Dori's love for each other is positioned as a beacon of hope. Maybe not quite a beacon. A small, wavering flashlight at best. But still there.
I like how the backstories and relationships of the ensemble cast are fleshed out. I find Ryu and Dori especially compelling. On the other hand, the plot structure feels a bit anticlimactic. Awful things happen and the female leads have barely any agency, and then it just ends. On the plus side, though, the prose is really lovely at times. It's not flowery language, but it excels in getting across big ideas in simple images.
This is a bleak story for the most part, showing how people can devolve to ugliness and ruthlessness under extreme circumstances. Specifically, this happens along gendered lines, with most of the men in the story ending up in positions of power over women and children, and enacting violence on their bodies. They get killed or raped - content warning for that. In such bleakness, Jina and Dori's love for each other is positioned as a beacon of hope. Maybe not quite a beacon. A small, wavering flashlight at best. But still there.
I like how the backstories and relationships of the ensemble cast are fleshed out. I find Ryu and Dori especially compelling. On the other hand, the plot structure feels a bit anticlimactic. Awful things happen and the female leads have barely any agency, and then it just ends. On the plus side, though, the prose is really lovely at times. It's not flowery language, but it excels in getting across big ideas in simple images.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
litprof's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A disturbing yet riveting work of apocalyptic plague fiction published during the covid-19 pandemic that reveals yet doesn’t explain some of the irrational reactions to pandemic through an extreme (and violent) narrative. There are hints at religion, economic exploitation, and militarization that I would’ve wanted to learn more about, yet the novel focuses on a few characters, with chapters switching perspectives between them. The queer love story has some sweet moments, yet I would’ve wanted more character and relationship development, also between other characters, yet the dispersed perspective in such a short novel means the reader doesn’t get to know any of them that well. There are some poetic lines, and the translation into English reads smoothly. I’d recommend this to readers interested in Korean literature or plague fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jenniiireads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really interesting book that was rather quick to read. It was my first korean book I've read and the concept with the apocalypse and sort of link to covid vibes. It was so intriguing to hear about each womens experiences, especially since it feels very real to the point that I believe it would happen if the world ever came to this point. That said, I didn't really like the ending. The theme behind it, with the women coming together was very sweet, but I just didn't like the slight cliffhanger. I understand it is hard to end an apocalyptic story as there isn't really an end apart from surviving but this just left me wanting slightly more. But all round, very unique story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
dianahincureads's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, and War
amselot's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
anae2le's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
_robl_'s review against another edition
dark
sad
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? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, and War
jayisreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
4.0
I have mixed feelings about this one. To start things on a positive note, it’s wonderful to see mixed race, queer, and disability representation in Korean literature, and they’re just there, existing. Even in a bleak and post-apocalyptic world like the one in To the Warm Horizon, it was heartwarming to see such quiet yet powerful representation with Jina and Dori, with Joy.
Told in alternating perspectives from four characters (Ryu, Dori, Jina, and Gunji), this is where it started getting a little disorienting for me. I couldn’t quite follow what was happening, making the plot difficult to follow and the motives of these characters a little unclear. Yet, at the same time, I can’t help but wonder if this was deliberate. After all, these characters were unexpectedly uprooted from their homes to flee a deadly virus, making them just as disoriented and overwhelmed with grief, trying to figure out how to make their way across Russia in the dead of winter. At times, I accepted the author’s choice to create a story nearly devoid of a plot. Other times, I found it frustrating. Perhaps another reason why this book is a bit difficult to follow is because it’s not quite character-centered either.
I would say this book is more of an affective experience, in which you want these characters to make it, to continue to be resilient despite the bleak world they’re in and depressing situations they find themselves in. Somehow, Choi fostered a sense of hope in me as I made my way through this book, as unclear as it was at times. I think expecting more affect than anything else makes this book a lot more approachable to read.
I also liked Soje’s translation of this book. They found a good flow in pushing the story along and establishing the emotional states everyone was in. (A complete aside, but I absolutely love that there are more Korean translators emerging who are really able to address cultural nuances.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Rape, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Misogyny, and Suicide
Minor: Domestic abuse and Lesbophobia
_ciaran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, Murder, and War