bisexualchaos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler
I was convinced everyone was going to die at the end, but alas, this is a YA book. Somewhat of a twist at the end how they were saved! The ending was just a tad cheesy, and I would’ve personally preferred just a little bit more sadness or death for realism, but it was still wonderful!Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, and Blood
aiplusyou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Classism
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
none explicit
REVIEW
Ever read a book that just founds a permanent space in your head, even when you’re not reading, even when you’ve finished it? Over my book nerd years, I found some, and for me, that’s always the sign of a good book! Dry is a part of this list, and you might have already guessed, it was a book I really enjoyed!
Although Dry is categorized as a science fiction and futuristic dystopian novel, I would say that it feels like neither. In fact, the story it tells could very easily happen tomorrow in some part of this world, and that’s maybe the scariest part about it. It’s daunting to imagine that what we’re reading could happen to us at any time!
I would say that although it’s a very accessible novel, as it is destined for young adults, it can probably get under your skin, whatever your age is. I found myself followed by this constant sense that something was wrong. Every time I opened the tap, every time I drank a glass of water, I had the most intrusive thoughts that the water wouldn’t come out, that I should make that glass last. A sign of how much of an immersive experience this book is.
Although maybe peculiar, the characters felt very real to me, and one of my favourite aspects of this book was definitely how the authors explored human nature and how it changes when survival instinct kicks in. I felt like everything was very well done, not being too much considering the audience, but also not too little considering the message that needed to be passed.
Overall, I would say this was a very solid 4-star book, and if I was already curious to read Scythe, now I know I’ve got to do it! If you like dystopias and adventure books, I would definitely recommend this one to you!
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Police brutality
quills4days's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Police brutality, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Sexual assault, Violence, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Death, Gore, and War
Minor: Vomit
lilytheravenclaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Police brutality
kaidoz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Edit: I’ve realized a few things I’ve missed. There were a few points in the book where characters mentioned how bad communism was which I thought was so strange. It seemed forced and like a political statement when no one even asked for it. Also, the reason I stated that the cast of characters being diverse was complicated is because their personalities are diverse, but they really aren’t. The main girl and her brother are of unidentified origin for like half of the book, and they end up being like, a quarter Jamaican and the rest European. Another female character is also very light-skinned but I honestly couldn’t tell you what she is because it was so forgettable. I think Greek? Roman? The rest were completely white. Also I believe there was a singular mention of one of the male characters not liking men, but other than that gay people didn’t exist. No POC or LGBT people in California? This truly is a fiction novel. Anyways, I still thought the story was great, so I’m not changing my review or anything.
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Trafficking
I will be giving more detail on some of the warnings while withholding as many spoilers as I can. I’ll label them. Car accident (very minor spoilers):Spoiler
The vehicles being driven ram into many objects including trees and boulders, which are minor. At one point a vehicle is being suspended by a fence and falls, driving down a steep incline where it safely reaches the bottom. At another point, a driver is describing how they cannot stop the vehicle from falling into a deep slope and hitting many obstacles. The characters get out safely and the vehicle is totaled with the airbags out and tires askew. Later, the characters hear it blow up.Spoiler
People in a city drink water from an old water distributor (forgive me, I can’t remember the actual word) and it gives them dysentery. The entire neighborhood is sick and stuck in their homes. Two characters’ sicknesses are described with detail- stench of death, lifeless eyes, looks like a corpse- that kind of stuff. A character who contracted dysentery dies “off-screen,” aka it is briefly mentioned after the fact. The main characters deal with horrible dehydration, and it is briefly mentioned when people die from this.Spoiler
No, none of the main characters die. They almost do.Spoiler
One of the characters’ brother dies by gunshot. The significant other of a non-immediate relative also dies. The significant other is mentioned briefly while the brother is moderately described.Spoiler
Not great. Three characters die from gunshot wounds, at least two were to the head. They are described moderately. Another character refuses to leave the area and is left to burn in a forest fire, but no screams are heard. Many named characters are briefly mentioned to have died of dehydration, and one of dysentery. It’s a state-wide disaster that 200,000 people end up dying from. There are many near-death descriptions near the end.Spoiler
There are many forest fires since California is completely dried up. The characters have to surpass one to get to their goal. One character walks through the fire. Another side character is left to die because she refuses to leave the area. Characters struggle with smoke inhalation and one has maybe second or third degree burns.Spoiler
Minor characters are willing to do anything to get water during the crisis. Men are taking advantage of this and promising water to young girls if they go into their van, and later promise more if they can get another girl to do the same. This is in a brief POV called a “snapshot.” The girl whose POV is being shown is later mentioned to be a shell of a person. No sexual acts are described. Also, the main character gets into a scuffle with an older man. He insinuates that if she lets him rape her, then she can have some of his water. He attempts fo harass her.Spoiler
During a fire, a main character intends to shoot another main character and then themself to avoid burning alive. The other character tells them to do it, and they hold the gun to the other’s head.Spoiler
One of the main girl characters is rude and somewhat bullies other characters. They constantly fight for control but eventually things settle down. Another main male character is a manipulator. He lies constantly, takes credit for things he didn’t do, tries to take over the group, and deceives another character in order to rise to the top. He also takes advantage of struggling people to make money and has little to no empathy for them.kbergsten'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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Grief