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mllesophie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The concept was new and intriguing. I was hoping for a longer story, but I loved it.
ihateprozac's review
4.0
Dammit, I want this as a full dystopian novel! I liked the concept of the library, but it's the characters introduced in the final act that really had me intrigued. I wish their crusade were the central focus of this short story.
cheries35plus's review
5.0
A short story that is creative and original. It easily could have been turned into a novel. It is an interesting and enjoyable quick read. It is a futuristic telling that seems that it could possibly happen.
itsmeamethyst's review
5.0
4.5 / Short but powerful story that tackles reproductive justice, set in a dystopian society. Gay is a gifted storyteller who consistently delivers smart and thought-provoking art.
katy_bee's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
An interesting premise, not fully developed for my taste. I appreciate it's tricky to do in a short story but I would have like a bit more of an explanation. The characters were well drawn in a short space of time
jazdewills's review against another edition
When it's this short and I still can't get into it, it's not a book for me.
melodyseestrees's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
4.25
The issue with this, for me, is how short it is. There are only 24 pages to get to know the world and characters. We don't really end up learning enough. What we do get is thought-provoking and emotional though. If your aunt or uncle (or any other family member) waxes poetic about the virtues of genetic testing and how it should be used to keep "certain people" from reproducing you will find this hitting a certain key in your head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny and Trafficking
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Kidnapping
There is implication that Licensed Men sexually assault unlicensed women but no explicit details are given.taylorardoin's review
3.0
I much preferred this short story physically read rather than audiobook. I made it about halfway through the audiobook and wanted to DNF. But I kept telling myself I wanted to finish it since it was so short. I finished it this morning reading on my kindle and had a much better experience.
I think there was just a lot of setup for this world and not a lot of action, which is likely why I didn’t care for it as much. Probably would have been better as a full length novel.
I think there was just a lot of setup for this world and not a lot of action, which is likely why I didn’t care for it as much. Probably would have been better as a full length novel.