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rnbhargava'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
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Violence, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
There are scenes where cities are put at risk en masse. There’s examples of characters that are clearly analogous to far right, kind of racist, supposedly religion based politicians. The idea of the soul of a city, the distinct things that give them personality is a big theme in this. The avatars are emblematic in the best ways possible. I overall love this duology. Frankly, I kind of hope Jemisin still makes it into a trilogy one day.quarkie'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
5.0
What I liked: Each character has such a strong point of view, and is so multi-dimensional. They feel so effortlessly real. Jemisin puts them in so many (terrible, awful, amazing, beautiful, human) true-to-life situations, and they respond in a way that feels both real and true to their characters. I feel like I know each character - not that I know a specific individual that is just like them, but they serve as true avatars of not only their boroughs but for their populations. So many of the thought processes and comments that characters make are so relatable, and I see them played out daily. Nothing in the book "just happens" - everything has a cause as well as an effect. The storylines are tight and pacing is great. And I just can't get over how beautifully written it was.
What I didn't like: I think my only complaint was that while some of the pop and political cultural references feel fresh now (in 2024), but I'm not sure how well some of them will age.
Concepts that will stick with me: In a way, this book personifies racism, xenophobia, and gentrification by turning it into a singular entity that can be taken on and beaten. This is a comforting thought. It explores the concept of "personality gentrification", or as I came to think of it, gentrification of the soul. It also deals with what happens what the gentrifier meets with gentrification. It also shows how someone can be seen as "nice" by one set of people (and actually be genuinely nice to them), but also participate in oppressive structures that hurt everyone, including the people they are nice to. It's a haunting exploration of the fragility of xenophobes (especially the well-meaning ones), and the mental and emotional work people have to put in to deal with that.
Graphic: Cursing and Deportation
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
zombiezami's review
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Racism, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, Car accident, Abandonment, and Colonisation
trayslays's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia and Deportation
stormeno'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Cursing, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
rainbowyeticorn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
I really loved this series so much. The narrator does such a fabulous job bringing all the characters to life. I highly recommend reading the audiobook version over the print version or maybe reading and listening to both at the same time because in my opinion this is the best way to experience this fabulous book!apersonfromflorida'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: Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality and Deportation
Minor: Transphobia and Injury/Injury detail
grets_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Mental illness, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
ninjamuse's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Transphobia and Injury/Injury detail