Scan barcode
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
c100's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
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
tamaralh7's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
sauriaiel'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
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Violence, and Religious bigotry
liannaengland's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Racism, and Violence
calamitydane'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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
whimsylee'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
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation