The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
beatriks'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: War
toastedoats42'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
Moderate: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, and War
ekcd_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Itâs an incredibly slow book, plot wise, and the few plot events we do see dont make sense. The characters have odd reactions - socially and culturally. And god knows Becky Chambers lives to talk about how different all her aliens are. There is a weird fixation on sex and sexual differences in the book which could have been a fun exploration in sexuality if it was done well but instead it felt like she was patting herself on the back for coming up with such sexually diverse races/species. Several times in the book she says outright âyeah XYZ is so different from humansâ and like thatâs it.Â
I feel like I read a different book than all the critics (formal and informal) who have such high praise. This read like a YA novel or childrenâs cartoon that feeds the reader emotions with a spoon. Iâm fact, most of the world building in general is fed to the reader with a spoon- itâs explicit and heavy handed OR itâs nonsense words that are never explained or expanded on. Itâs clear the author uses letters and characters who are librarians to shoehorn in world building she wasnât creative enough to build into the narrative. No nuance, no complexity. Just a feel good mill, which I personally do not like. I want moral ambiguity and conflict in my space opera.Â
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Police brutality, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, War, Death, Genocide, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Blood
singalana'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? No
4.0
Minor: Hate crime, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Alcohol, and Gun violence
cookiecat73's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Torture, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, Violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Incest, Classism, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Vomit, and War
idun_aurora'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
4.0
Minor: Grief, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Drug use, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, and War
arthur_ant18'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: War, Terminal illness, Confinement, Grief, and Xenophobia
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Genocide, and Sexual content
claudiamacpherson'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
4.5
Moderate: Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Confinement, and Genocide
Minor: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Medical content, Alcohol, Animal death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Slavery
oliverreeds'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: Blood, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Vomit, and War
beautifulpaxielreads'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
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Body shaming, Genocide, and Panic attacks/disorders