kassidyreads'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
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Blood, Fatphobia, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Self harm, and Torture
jesticulate's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The edition I read had two passages added at the end the from the author talking about her relationship with weight and it’s presence in the book. Both I think we’re added post publication and do not repair the harm of the prior 400 pages fat-shaming.
The book opens with the protagonist describing herself as a pig and a stuffed sausage. Not a chapter in the first half passed without bad self-talk regarding her weight. Worse than that though, half way through the book she starts to get more confident, useful, and powerful. This of course corresponds with her getting thinner - regardless of the authors statements, this book ties the her moral character and worthiness directly to her weight in every chapter. When other people (later, When she’s skinny) say she would be pretty if she got fat again, this is considered ‘kindness’.
I read the whole book partially because I like a fun adventure, partially because I was outraged, and partially because I wanted to leave a fully informed review.
If you have a history of disordered eating, trauma around food, or just are sick of this bullshit - please don’t read this book. It’s not worth it.
Graphic: Violence, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Blood
hazelsnoot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, and War
Moderate: Self harm, Animal death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, and Torture
Minor: Eating disorder, Incest, and Rape
cleo_wylde'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
3.75
Spoiler
less of a plot spoiler and more a general one: the main character is a fat woman and she experiences a lot of internalised fatphobia as well as fatphobia and weight stigma from others. She often "comfort eats" or binges and this is seen as a bad/lazy/gross thing. Her weight loss (which is in part due to food scarcity) is celebrated. I found it really frustrating, tbh. Why not just have a fat character??? </Spoiler>A heads up that this is a pretty religious book (fictional religion) and there are lots of religious themes, praying, missions from God, etc. If that's something that bothers you or that you don't like, you may want to skip this one.
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, War, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Infidelity
lizziaha's review
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape