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talonsontypewriters's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
super conceptually fun, but ends up overthrowing a coherent, well-paced plot, consistent three-dimensional characters, and clear worldbuilding for themes and vibes most of the time. probably a good time for someone, but unfortunately not me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Eating disorder, Gore, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
averyjpub's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed seeing the characters grapple with disability and the contrast of Alana being disabled and wanting to live while her sister was able bodied and essentially wanted to die (no matter how it was dressed up) was a good contrast that drew me in. I found some reactions in the book… strange, like expecting more of one from Alana when she was forced to enlist her sisters help and how untroubled she was by her parents death at first and also when the doppleganger Alana admitted to committing genocide and we just… move on? I thought the entire doppelgänger Alana part felt weirdly out of place, like a way to just wrap up the story but was really unsatisfying. I just didn’t find the characters reactions or lack of them to be very believable. It was really nice to see different relationship dynamics that weren’t stereotypical of polyamory.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I LOVED the premise. I loved that it was a queer, Black, polyamorous and disabled love story. The anti-capitalist critiques in the story's themes were great.
This being said, the leads had no chemistry and every character besides Alana fell flat for me. I would have loved to see more complex character development to support the romance.
I look forward to reading other books by this author, as it was a great debut.
This being said, the leads had no chemistry and every character besides Alana fell flat for me. I would have loved to see more complex character development to support the romance.
I look forward to reading other books by this author, as it was a great debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Grief, and Death of parent
obviousthings's review against another edition
I liked reading about a main character with a chronic illness, but I found the narration to be way too melodramatic. Alana is quick to say things like "The sound tore through the wall of silence, shattering my nerves" when she's mildly startled, for example. It takes all the impact out of scenes that should be impactful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, and Death of parent
switchywitchsitch's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
inamerata's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I do not recommend this if you have any concerns about disordered eating.
I wanted to like this book. It sounded cool and had glowing recommendations, but it didn't work for me.
Poor communication is off-putting in general, but especially in romance. Even more in poly romances. It was believable the crew wouldn't trust Alana right away, but once you're instigating romantic gestures, you shouldn't play coy with things like "current relationship status and dynamic." It was deceptive and manipulative, yet Alana's confusion and distress were treated like the problem, rather than her being put in that position in the first place. It left me rooting against the entire relationship, and frustrated as she was browbeaten into accepting the abuse.
Alana and Nova's sisterly relationship was perhaps the strongest element, and I bought into the tension with them. However, Nova's personal arc was extremely uncomfortable because of its pro-anorexic spirituality that is glamorized to the pointthat she saves the day by literally starving and wasting away, and that's the titular ascension . The way Alana's experiences with chronic illness and pain were written rang true, though, and it was nice to see the topic come up throughout the narrative.
Unfortunately, Ascension's concepts are much better than its execution.
I wanted to like this book. It sounded cool and had glowing recommendations, but it didn't work for me.
Poor communication is off-putting in general, but especially in romance. Even more in poly romances. It was believable the crew wouldn't trust Alana right away, but once you're instigating romantic gestures, you shouldn't play coy with things like "current relationship status and dynamic." It was deceptive and manipulative, yet Alana's confusion and distress were treated like the problem, rather than her being put in that position in the first place. It left me rooting against the entire relationship, and frustrated as she was browbeaten into accepting the abuse.
Alana and Nova's sisterly relationship was perhaps the strongest element, and I bought into the tension with them. However, Nova's personal arc was extremely uncomfortable because of its pro-anorexic spirituality that is glamorized to the point
Unfortunately, Ascension's concepts are much better than its execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Eating disorder