The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
takarakei's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Really interesting and unique concept for a YA fantasy (set in a future altered US) in the territory of Verity monsters are controlled by two sides of a divided V-City. We follow two povs one on each side - Kate Harker the daughter to one of the men in power, and August Flynn who is one of the rarest kinds of monsters (his found family are on the other side of power). Monsters form from various kinds of violent /bad things that happen (ex: murder at various levels) and there are three different types. Kate and Flynn meet at a private school in the best part of the city, and are then thrust together when murders happen for which someone tries to frame Flynn for.
This book is asking the question "what really makes a monster?" -Â is August really a monster just because everyone says he is? Both August and Kate are complex characters whom you can't help but root for. If you're looking for a dark/gritty book with questions about good vs evil - AND it reads fast! This is it!
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Car accident
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Bullying
jackeline_cruz_'s review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, Car accident, Murder, War, and Violence
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
The plot follows two high schoolers on different sides of ‘the seam’. They live in a dystopian mega city called Verity that is plagued with monsters. The south is governed by a militaristic ruling family that utilizes monsters to defend while the north is ruled by a business man who utilizes the monsters and has people pay him to keep them ‘safe’. The monsters are Malachai: evil vampire-like creatures that like to kill, have really tough skin, and a bone breast plate, Corosai: evil hive mind creatures that are mostly shadow and can be destroyed with light to the face, and Sunai: a siren-like creature that reap evil human souls only but without them starves and goes off like a bomb before continuing. Our main characters August, a Sunai from the South side who is adopted into the military ruling family, and Kate, the daughter of the businessman ruler of the North side, meet in a precarious arranged situation and end up on an adventure together.Â
My main confusion was over August, the Sunai, who isn’t really explained. The reader slowly pieces his situation together which is meant to be mysterious but just ends up confusing. He has tally mark tattoos that mark how many days since he’s last gone off like bomb, and these magically appear and disappear. He needs to ‘eat’ evil human souls in an unspecified ‘often’ and if not he grows physically and mentally ill. He has this adoptive family situation that isn’t fully explained but his two ‘siblings’ are also adoptive Sunai, and no other known ones exist.Â
I really enjoyed the story but it is clearly one of VE Scwab’s earlier stories and has a lot of loose threads. It’s cool to see how she’s grown as an author. I recommend the book but I’d read a world building explanation first.
Graphic: Blood, Dysphoria, Islamophobia, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, Kidnapping, Confinement, Grief, and Gun violence
nabecker13's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Torture, Car accident, Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Murder, Kidnapping, and Violence
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Grief, Gore, and Torture
Minor: Mass/school shootings
jennastopreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, Violence, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and Vomit
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, and Car accident
onf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Car accident, Blood, Violence, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, War, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mass/school shootings
ten_telegrams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Gore, Violence, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Mass/school shootings
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, War, Medical content, and Death of parent
bookcaptivated'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Slavery, Vomit, War, and Stalking