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mirrorofneptune'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? No
2.5
I only had a couple “valid” (in my words) problems with the book, chief among them being the ending– it felt rather deus ex machina to me and while I can understand it thematically, I think if the author had decided to
My completely-subjective (invalid) reason for rating this book so low is that I did not like the writing style at all. As in, I knew by the end of the first paragraph that I would not vibe with the book solely due to the writing style. I still powered through because the premise was interesting and I’m glad I did, but my opinion on the writing style has not changed. I think it aims to be poetic but to me it felt overwritten. Again this is a purely subjective opinion and doesn’t speak to the author’s ability at all, but it also did in essence ruin the experience of reading the book for me :(
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, and Murder
jmcampbell57'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, and Religious bigotry
bookishmillennial's review
- 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
This was such a fantastic book, and I am always impressed every time I read from Rivers Solomon. They are an excellent writer, and I don’t know if they’ve written anything else besides The Deep (which I’ve read), but I will be seeking out their backlist.
This book follows Vern, a 15-year-old intersex kid (I say “kid” because she was a minor when this story began, and it was so upsetting what she went through) who has run away from her community (Blessed Acres of Cain also called “Cainland”), and gives birth to twins whom she names Feral and Howling. Feral and Vern are both albino, which was an interesting part of their own arcs in how they navigated feelings about their bodies, their skin, and the ways in which they were treated by society.
The compound that Vern left was originally thought of as Black power movement-inspired, but has morphed into a religious cult. Vern was married to the leader, and when the choice was brought to her, it was framed as if it was “doing her a favor”. Barf.
Vern figures out more about the compound, as well as herself in regards to her own powers. I don’t want to spoil it, but the way that the fungi comes into play, as well as the government ties, was a mind-fuck. I was not expecting that, and Solomon really surprised me.
Ultimately, I appreciated the commentary that Solomon provides on the government, cults, racism, religion, colonization, gender, and sexuality. I honored Vern’s anger, exhaustion, and unrelenting stubbornness, and was fully immersed in this gruesome story about generational trauma and the horrors of America’s history of violence against Black and indigenous folks.
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
shauna_grenead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Having said all this, it is not one for the faint of heart. The writing is beautifully raw and grotesque. I don’t believe I fit the target audience for Sorrowland. I’m glad I read it anyway.
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Colonisation
Minor: Suicide
victorsbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
plantybooklover'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? Yes
5.0
Overview: Vern escapes a cult known as Cain -Land as a pregnant teen. She births twins in the woods and chooses an extrordinarily difficult path to raise them while avoiding those from the compound who pursue her. Vern develops supernatural powers and features and must work to understand and control them.
This book- though under 400 pages packs a punch to the gut. I was struck by the massive amount of references to both great black literature, and intense black American traumatic events. While I caught a lot of them, I'm sure I missed more.
I would have enjoyed reading this slower, with a group, but... I finished it up for the Trans Right Readathon.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gore, Sexual violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Infertility, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
mayarobinson831'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: Body horror, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Homophobia, Racism, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
turtlebrainlibrarian'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Homophobia, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
cleot'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Suicide
mellomorissa'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: Animal death, Body horror, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault