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sinamile's review
5.0
TW/CW: torture, mentions of ptsd, mentions of anxiety, mentions of depression, mentions of drug use, mentions of dissociation, mention of trauma (mental/physical), allusion to suicide, fire
I really fricking appreciate that a trans character didn't have to be deadnamed to show that they're trans. I really fricking appreciate how normalized pronouns are. I really fricking appreciate how much ptsd and anxiety and such are spoken about, how real they're made. I really fricking appreciate this book!
Oh my lawrd, I love this book, okay. I love it so much!
Like okay, so much happens in this book, like these characters don't know what the word break means, but it's such a good book omg!
I love every single character in this book, even Hans who I wanted to fight so many times. I every single character that shows up in this book, I love Regan, I love Evelyn, I love Rose and Danae and Jack and I love Zilch and Finn, and Finn's bad driving, and I love Cassandra, and Jenny and Cai, and Lisette and Wren and Liam and Toto-Dandy, and even though I was feeling apprehension by the end I love Garrett, I love Gabriel and Radio Angel and I'm probably forgetting people but I love them all.
I am so excited and nervous and mostly excited for the next book. I'm excited to know what will happen next with Regan, I want to know where everyone is, if they're all safe, if they're all alive. I want to see how everyone gets out. I want to know more about Radio Angel. I want to see more of the relationships (fricking polyam for the win, my friends!)
There is so much goodness in this, so much drama and stress, but so much goodness. There is so much I want to see next! Like I am ready to get my heart broken but mended. I can't wait to see what RoAnna Sylver does, can't wait to get lost once more in the pages of their amazing writing.
I am so excited OMG!
I really fricking appreciate that a trans character didn't have to be deadnamed to show that they're trans. I really fricking appreciate how normalized pronouns are. I really fricking appreciate how much ptsd and anxiety and such are spoken about, how real they're made. I really fricking appreciate this book!
Oh my lawrd, I love this book, okay. I love it so much!
Like okay, so much happens in this book, like these characters don't know what the word break means, but it's such a good book omg!
I love every single character in this book, even Hans who I wanted to fight so many times. I every single character that shows up in this book, I love Regan, I love Evelyn, I love Rose and Danae and Jack and I love Zilch and Finn, and Finn's bad driving, and I love Cassandra, and Jenny and Cai, and Lisette and Wren and Liam and Toto-Dandy, and even though I was feeling apprehension by the end I love Garrett, I love Gabriel and Radio Angel and I'm probably forgetting people but I love them all.
I am so excited and nervous and mostly excited for the next book. I'm excited to know what will happen next with Regan, I want to know where everyone is, if they're all safe, if they're all alive. I want to see how everyone gets out. I want to know more about Radio Angel. I want to see more of the relationships (fricking polyam for the win, my friends!)
There is so much goodness in this, so much drama and stress, but so much goodness. There is so much I want to see next! Like I am ready to get my heart broken but mended. I can't wait to see what RoAnna Sylver does, can't wait to get lost once more in the pages of their amazing writing.
I am so excited OMG!
felicitybennett's review
3.0
I got this book for free in a bundle. I thought the plot was good and the world was interesting, at times I had double to check the year the book was written because of some of dystopian world-building was a little to close to certain world events in 2020. And for better or worse, reminding me of the present marks a good dystopian sci-fi for me. The plot failed in the regard that the pacing was really slow in the beginning and I was constantly confused until about a third in. I almost gave up a few times but was glad I didn't.
The characters were diverse which was great, some were more memorable than others. Some show up for 5 seconds, seem important, then you never find out anything about them. But I guess that's what book 2 is for. Others were really cool and I loved their emotional arc.
The biggest problem for me was the dialogue. I get being positive but every conversation was either "Everything is going to be okay" (the last thing you want to hear when you're upset) or "Remember to Breathe", which is fine but it was really repetitive with how many conversations went the same way. I think what bothered me about it was that the characters would speak like a mental health app chatbot.
Overall: It was good, it ended on a cliffhanger but I'm passing on the second book.
The characters were diverse which was great, some were more memorable than others. Some show up for 5 seconds, seem important, then you never find out anything about them. But I guess that's what book 2 is for. Others were really cool and I loved their emotional arc.
The biggest problem for me was the dialogue. I get being positive but every conversation was either "Everything is going to be okay" (the last thing you want to hear when you're upset) or "Remember to Breathe", which is fine but it was really repetitive with how many conversations went the same way. I think what bothered me about it was that the characters would speak like a mental health app chatbot.
Overall: It was good, it ended on a cliffhanger but I'm passing on the second book.
n3rdybookworm's review
2.0
Stopped reading after a bit more than 1/3 of the book. I really wanted to like it, because it has some awesome characters and great representation, but the story just didn't make me want to keep reading. There were just things happening one after another without a feel of direction or rising action. I still had no idea where the story was going or even what genre it was trying to aim at (Mystery-Thriller? Adventure?), but certain themes were already starting to get repetitive. Not having introduced any arc of suspense after more than 150 pages really isn't good. The author's short stories (many of which play in the same universe) seem much more suited to their writing style than 400-page novels.
willow1113's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
rosieclaverton's review
4.0
A fantastical dystopia with strong queer and disability rep, particularly glorious on polyamorous relationships and families of choice.
I found myself getting lost at times, but I think that reflected the chaotic nature of the setting. On the whole, I think this book was not for me, but very good in terms of characterisation and representation.
I found myself getting lost at times, but I think that reflected the chaotic nature of the setting. On the whole, I think this book was not for me, but very good in terms of characterisation and representation.
elfington's review
3.0
A little preachy for me - but how many YA explorations of polyamory and non-binary gender expression are there that take place in a prison world perched above fire? Or that feature a relationship between two characters, one scaly and one stitched together from scavenged body parts?
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Chameleon Moon makes for an amazing audiobook thanks to the impressive narration by Kyle Rocco East and the sound design. It even includes two in-universe songs performed by the author, RoAnna Sylver.
I love when audiobooks go the extra mile like this—the voice effects make computerised, broadcasted and ghostly voices feel more real. Aside from that, the narrator did an incredible job at giving each character a unique voice.
One thing I love about all of RoAnna Sylver’s writing is the focus on queer and disabled experiences, polyamorous families, and the inclusion of ace, aro and trans characters. Queer love is powerful and it can save the world!
Even though the characters go through a lot of very painful things, there’s always hope, always a reason to keep going and try to protect the people you love. That makes this a thrilling, emotional story that will leave you hopeful for the future.
I love when audiobooks go the extra mile like this—the voice effects make computerised, broadcasted and ghostly voices feel more real. Aside from that, the narrator did an incredible job at giving each character a unique voice.
One thing I love about all of RoAnna Sylver’s writing is the focus on queer and disabled experiences, polyamorous families, and the inclusion of ace, aro and trans characters. Queer love is powerful and it can save the world!
Even though the characters go through a lot of very painful things, there’s always hope, always a reason to keep going and try to protect the people you love. That makes this a thrilling, emotional story that will leave you hopeful for the future.
from my review on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Eyrv7om4k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
bonriki's review
This is a hopepunk scifi that is smothering in its earnest kindness. The level of touchy-feely found family sweetness is too much, it comes off a bit… patronizing?
jennifilm's review
4.0
This was a bit of a slow burn for me but by the time I got halfway through I was definitely hooked! The last quarter was such a good ride & I'm v excited to read #2!