nina_wintermeyer's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dozylocal's review
4.0
3.5 stars
An interesting take on non-violence as an option for resistance in a violent world. Set in the future, in the 2040s, it tells the story of a family within a community living in what was San Francisco. It's a community founded on the belief that there are four sacred things in the world that cannot be owned and belong to all: water, earth, air and fire. In this community everyone works together for the good of all.
In contrast, the rest of America is being ruled by violence, where water is rationed and racism and sexism are rife. Where breaking one of the rules of purity makes one a 'soulless' one - which means you can be used in breeding programs or for entertaining the soldiers. Besides the control of water, various designer bugs and diseases (for which the rulers hold the cure) are used to keep the population and the armies in check.
These two worlds collide, as seen through the experiences of Bird and Madrone, who both leave the safety of their community and venture south for various reasons. And then the south invades the north. The south with its armies and weapons and violence vs a north that has spent its entire existence focused on building and growing rather than armaments.
An interesting take on non-violence as an option for resistance in a violent world. Set in the future, in the 2040s, it tells the story of a family within a community living in what was San Francisco. It's a community founded on the belief that there are four sacred things in the world that cannot be owned and belong to all: water, earth, air and fire. In this community everyone works together for the good of all.
In contrast, the rest of America is being ruled by violence, where water is rationed and racism and sexism are rife. Where breaking one of the rules of purity makes one a 'soulless' one - which means you can be used in breeding programs or for entertaining the soldiers. Besides the control of water, various designer bugs and diseases (for which the rulers hold the cure) are used to keep the population and the armies in check.
These two worlds collide, as seen through the experiences of Bird and Madrone, who both leave the safety of their community and venture south for various reasons. And then the south invades the north. The south with its armies and weapons and violence vs a north that has spent its entire existence focused on building and growing rather than armaments.
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