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wornpagesandendlesscoffey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Yours for the Taking takes sapphic novels and redefines them. I can imagine its characters asking 'Bechtel test? How primitive.' This book asks the question 'What if a white feminist is given supreme power and authority'- and the results are as disastrous and disturbing as you can imagine. In a world ravaged by climate change, a world destroyed by raging storms and too high temperatures, innovators create "Inside"; a safe zone for the select few financed by the world's billionaires. The story follows a group of women as they navigate this new world, the betrayals, love, and heartache they experience; and how dangerous a lack of intersectionality can be. This one is one to watch, and an important commentary on our social and personal dynamics in an ever changing world that never truly has our best interests at heart. A gripping narrative about power, race, and identity- and how even at the end of the world we divide and oppress each other. And what happens when we say enough is enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Ableism, Classism, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Pregnancy, Rape, Transphobia, Addiction, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death
daisha101's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Yours for the Taking is set in the future and spans the years 2050-2078. Climate change has devastated the planet which sparks the need for new ideas to save humanity. The “Inside” project is supposed to do just that, but there’s more to it than the public knows. This climate change based story is a good read for dystopian fans and those looking to read stories with a strong cast of women characters.
I had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t quite reach them. The premise of this book is interesting and I did enjoy the story for the most part, but there were several moments that would have more powerful if they were left for the reader to reflect on and not immediately explained away. This tendency for over-explaining made me question who was the intended audience of the book and took me out of the story. There were a few specific parts in the story that also irked me including a line about having children to fill a void and a character bed-sharing with an infant.
This story spans two decades so there’s a fair amount of time that’s quickly described in a couple paragraphs and not detailed which makes sense, but I do wish there were more scenes in the book in place of some of these descriptions so that I could get more engaged in the characters and their interactions. The ending also felt anticlimactic and I wish there was more there. Overall though, this was a book I did mostly enjoy reading and would recommend to others as I can see this being something that some people really love even though it wasn’t that for me.
I had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t quite reach them. The premise of this book is interesting and I did enjoy the story for the most part, but there were several moments that would have more powerful if they were left for the reader to reflect on and not immediately explained away. This tendency for over-explaining made me question who was the intended audience of the book and took me out of the story. There were a few specific parts in the story that also irked me including a line about having children to fill a void and a character bed-sharing with an infant.
This story spans two decades so there’s a fair amount of time that’s quickly described in a couple paragraphs and not detailed which makes sense, but I do wish there were more scenes in the book in place of some of these descriptions so that I could get more engaged in the characters and their interactions. The ending also felt anticlimactic and I wish there was more there. Overall though, this was a book I did mostly enjoy reading and would recommend to others as I can see this being something that some people really love even though it wasn’t that for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Drug abuse
ash_poison's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
I enjoyed most of this book, except for its ending which left me dissatisfied due to the unresolved plotlines. The book concluded on a frustrating cliffhanger, and while I have questions, I won't delve into them to avoid spoiling the experience for potential readers.
Several issues stood out to me. The initial concepts introduced in the beginning weren't consistently developed throughout the story. Some monologues were overly lengthy and felt unnecessary. The book featured an abundance of different points of view (POVs), including four women highlighted in the synopsis and an additional three introduced later on. This accumulation of seven distinct POVs lacked clear labeling, making it confusing to follow. Moreover, the portrayal of perspectives from transgender and black women felt underdeveloped, particularly concerning the challenges they might face, such as the amplified backlash a black woman might encounter compared to a white woman in a position of power. Proper research into these experiences, particularly within corporate America, would have enhanced authenticity. Additionally, certain conflicts were resolved too hastily.
Despite these criticisms, I found several intriguing aspects. The book effectively weaved in satirical elements, providing a thought-provoking exploration of feminism and the essence of womanhood. As someone who identifies as a feminist, I found my understanding evolving while reading, thanks to the author's impactful influence. The author possesses a remarkable command of language, crafting immersive settings and evoking genuine emotions from the characters. Even the perspectives of the antagonists were engrossing, prompting me to reflect on my own notions of feminism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, Classism, Transphobia, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Body horror, Drug use, and Death
Minor: Cancer and Child abuse
bootsmom3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Ableism, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
nukie19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
This is a really thought-provoking look at a near-future world and how the goals of creating a community without the patriarchy is a more complex problem than it originally appears. Korn does a good job of really breaking down the simplistic view from the billionaire funding the project - an older, wealthy, cis-hetero, white female - about how to create this reality by just eliminating men from the picture. Touching on topics such as the gender spectrum, power imbalances, trans-rights, bodily autonomy, and more, this book probably isn't for everyone who isn't ready for that kind of political statement along with their speculative/climate fiction. It can be at times a little simple and obvious with the themes, but overall I think it would make a great book club read to open discussions on these topics.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Drug use
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