kanj1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Gore, Child abuse, Violence, Sexism, Racism, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Grief, Abandonment, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Confinement
julieyael's review against another edition
There was too much incoherence for my taste.
Spoiler
The pregnant person jumping from tree to tree, the « babies » surviving alone for days when they should barely be able to walk and so on…Also the main character was not really loveable or relatable and I had a hard time understanding her reactions.
There is a mystery and some fantasy, but it’s not worth (for me) the challenge of reading this until the end.
And the content of the book has many hard subjects which I was not really expecting (I should have checked the content warnings before, because I was really uncomfortable with lots of things)
So, not for me, but maybe for someone else it’s a good book.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, and Stalking
ash_ton'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
3.75
i was not expecting the turn the book took. like, at all. wild
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Homophobia, Blood, Stalking, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Sexism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Cannibalism, Child death, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Suicide, Bullying, Cancer, and Cultural appropriation
directorpurry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Slavery, Racism, Homophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Child death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
savvylit'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
Sorrowland is a thrilling and captivating story right from the start. Solomon plunges readers directly into Vern's post-escape world in the woods. The details of Vern's former cult, The Blessed Acres of Cain, are then slowly revealed to the reader in increasingly disturbing flashbacks. Once Vern, Feral, and Howling leave the safety of the land, the story becomes even more riveting. Vern experiences a painful and mysterious physical change. Her evolving form is clearly connected to the cult she left behind - but she doesn't know how or why. Readers join Vern on her voyage of discovery and learn the truth of it all alongside her.
Beyond the engrossing and mysterious plot, Sorrowland is also chock-full of loveable characters. Vern is palpable, nuanced, and relatable. Feral and Howling are adorable and some of the most fully-formed child characters I've ever experienced in fiction. Bridget and Gogo are beautifully portrayed characters whose imperfections make them all the more loveable. Essentially, every single character in this book felt like a real person & now I miss them all.
Last - but not at all least - the thematic content in this book is a delight. Solomon gives us queer love, found family, government conspiracy, cult dynamics, backwoods survivalism, and magical realism. If any of these themes appeal to you, Sorrowland is not to be missed!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Violence, Death, Animal death, Pregnancy, Medical content, Grief, Racism, Medical trauma, Body horror, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
delaneybull's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Pregnancy and Religious bigotry
maksipad'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
Graphic: Torture, Stalking, Racism, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide, Addiction, Child death, Murder, Body horror, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Slavery
mixtercharlie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Ableism, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Torture, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Animal death, Child death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, Genocide, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Self harm
lpdx'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
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Alcohol, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Confinement, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Cancer and Medical content
salemander's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Confinement, Fatphobia, Grief, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Addiction, Rape, Animal death, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Domestic abuse