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key_lime_cake's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. In the beginning, I really strongly disliked every single character. I especially disliked the main character. I had some theories about the plot that turned out to be true, but it was certainly a wild ride. I'm not sure if I could recommend it. This book was super graphic, full of toxic behaviors. Very unlikeable characters, though there was some character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage and Fire/Fire injury
ellenmc07's review against another edition
5.0
Not gunna lie y'all, this is a slow burner. So slow, I almost gave up. However, I am so glad I didn't. I went into this with no expectations whatsoever and having just finished it, I'm floored. Is Raven super annoying and surly for most of the book? Yes. Is the dynamic between August and any other character sad and yet, tragically beautiful? Yes. Does it have to go as hard as it does with only 75 pages left in the book? That is up for debate still but, it would be a disservice not to give this book a try. It's got the makings of a great series and you can bet your last dollar I'll be hunting for the next one.
midwichtriffid's review against another edition
An interesting invasion story that I might come back to, but as a new mom I can't keep reading when they casually drop scenes full of dead babies. It's legit given me anxiety a couple of times and the one scene in the trailer made me want to cry, and vomit and almost gave me a panic attack.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Violence, and War
aarealreadsstuff's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted a dystopian alien book and I got a dystopian alien book! I really liked the male MC in this one. Really interesting.
kynan's review against another edition
3.0
TL;DR: A "YA" relationship-in-times-of-adversity page-turner set amidst the destruction of life as we know it by not very nice aliens.
TL: This is an interesting story that falls into the apocalyptic first-contact genre. It's marketed as being a Young Adult book but I have trouble with that designation as I don't think "YA" really equates to anything. In fact, according to Wikipedia, it doesn't: "There are no distinguishable differences in genre styles between YA fiction and adult fiction". So, it's about content, and I suspect that specifically YA fiction tries to come off as less "talk-downey" and to be a little more grimdark than the traditional rose-tinted and nostalgic view of youth that adults come up with. Point being, I think that sometimes "YA" is used as an excuse to ease up on the plotting a little, take some literary shortcuts, and I don't think that's really fair to all the YAs and I do think that is what happened here.
The story is told from two points of view, the main protagonist and majority narrator "Raven" is a "troubled youth", fresh off being busted with a group of her friends, all of whom have been sentenced to shared community service acting as camp counselors to a summer camp (a fact that I had a hard time believing, but some explanation was made as to why a bunch of juvies were employed as social leaders and guardian, I still don't buy it
TL: This is an interesting story that falls into the apocalyptic first-contact genre. It's marketed as being a Young Adult book but I have trouble with that designation as I don't think "YA" really equates to anything. In fact, according to Wikipedia, it doesn't: "There are no distinguishable differences in genre styles between YA fiction and adult fiction". So, it's about content, and I suspect that specifically YA fiction tries to come off as less "talk-downey" and to be a little more grimdark than the traditional rose-tinted and nostalgic view of youth that adults come up with. Point being, I think that sometimes "YA" is used as an excuse to ease up on the plotting a little, take some literary shortcuts, and I don't think that's really fair to all the YAs and I do think that is what happened here.
The story is told from two points of view, the main protagonist and majority narrator "Raven" is a "troubled youth", fresh off being busted with a group of her friends, all of whom have been sentenced to shared community service acting as camp counselors to a summer camp (a fact that I had a hard time believing, but some explanation was made as to why a bunch of juvies were employed as social leaders and guardian, I still don't buy it
msmoodyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0