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meganpbell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Infidelity, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
jodar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It is definitely a worthwhile read all the same and a good sequel to the first novel. I’m sure I’m not alone in not being entirely sure what actually occurs to the MC and the entire universe(!) at the end. A lot was unintelligible, I suspect intentionally so for us mere humans!
The novel poses some daunting questions: Can there be freedom without evil? If you were super-powerful but not all-powerful like the MC, how would you act for the good? Why would you act for the good, even? Is ultimate reality, or perhaps rather the goal of perfection, impersonal, inhuman logic? Or will allowing any personality within reality necessarily lead to imperfection? And at a more human level, do intimate relationships have a ‘purpose’? – or is that attitude narcissistic and undermining of true relationship?
There are echoes of Christian themes, such as creation by the Word, though it is an indirect influence, not overt. So too, elements of a destructive cult: intimidation by instructors and levels of enlightenment, whereby teachings at a lower levels are “necessary lies”.
The translation had a few American English words and expressions that are likely cryptic to other readers – a tony cocktail party; cry uncle; cockamamie – and more than once a non-standard plural aircrafts instead of aircraft.
CW: extramarital sex.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content and Gaslighting
naomi_k'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
aileron's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Car accident and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death and Sexual assault
sarah984's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking