fahyhallowell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, War, Alcohol, and Torture
jhbandcats's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
A tech-heavy, dense book about hackers that gets better as it goes along. In the beginning it’s all info and little story. After there’s enough detail and background, the plot gradually develops.
For someone only moderately tech savvy, a lot of the information in the first third of the book went over my head. I also found the mix of contemporary storytelling mixed with flashbacks to be less clearly delineated than I’d have liked. The main character wasn’t particularly likable and her character arc was too contrived.
That said, Cory Doctorow writes a good story. I just wish it hadn’t felt so much like a textbook.
For someone only moderately tech savvy, a lot of the information in the first third of the book went over my head. I also found the mix of contemporary storytelling mixed with flashbacks to be less clearly delineated than I’d have liked. The main character wasn’t particularly likable and her character arc was too contrived.
That said, Cory Doctorow writes a good story. I just wish it hadn’t felt so much like a textbook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Torture, Confinement, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
amandasystems's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s nice to see Doctorow portray someone on the other side, sort of, though he still has a massive problem with inserting long blog posts into the dialogue im the most Ayn Randian way possible.
The book was very confusing for me as an audio book in certain places when it swapped a lot between times and places, but that may just have been me not paying attention.
(I love Cory Doctorow, I should say, and I agree with him on nearly everything).
The book was very confusing for me as an audio book in certain places when it swapped a lot between times and places, but that may just have been me not paying attention.
(I love Cory Doctorow, I should say, and I agree with him on nearly everything).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Vomit, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
jenny_d's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel like this book has a lot of valuable info in it. It feels like a time capsule. Very much representative of the political situations we're in today. But it's presented in a way that feels like someone trying to prove how woke they are. I don't think that was the author's intention, but it's how it came off. Very preachy in a way that's likely to turn off anyone who would learn anything from the book.
That said, I really enjoyed the character arc that Masha went through. I read the audiobook, and I enjoyed the narrator's voices. I felt like I really knew all the characters by the end of the story.
That said, I really enjoyed the character arc that Masha went through. I read the audiobook, and I enjoyed the narrator's voices. I felt like I really knew all the characters by the end of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
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