cakedcrusader's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars only because I wish it had been longer. I wish we could have seen the growth of relationships and been given more depth of the character’s experiences (especially at the mountain school). But it was a very interesting, thought provoking, and creative story. I felt sucked in from the first chapter and really enjoyed the extra notes, stories, and illustrations before each chapter. Highly enjoyed!
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I actually liked this and it is well-constructed, AND I'm feeling the pressure of having too many library books checked out and so I'm not going to spend time on a book I'm not really loving. And reading this makes me feel like watching too many episodes of the Handmaids Tale on Hulu, it just keeps getting more and more depressing and the characters seem so powerless. I normally enjoy books that center women in a dark fantasy world, and I'm sorry I can't keep going with this one. It begins in the tone of a coming-of-age story, with narrator Celeste describing her relationship with her older brother Miles when they were children. In this world, girls' and women's bodies are marked with moles in identifiable patterns that can reveal the future. Instead of giving them power, though, the marks seem to make them more vulnerable to various forms of powerlessness and abuse. I'm stopping at the point where the worst has happened to Celeste, because it just feels pretty hopeless and I've got a huge stack of other library books waiting. Maybe I'm the wrong reader. Maybe it's the wrong time. I do think it's a strong book but I'm just not feeling it right now.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
DNF @ 50%-ish.
TWs: incest, rape, homophobia
Spoiler
While I went in knowing this was a misogynist dystopia this story moves like treacle and is rife with (semi-)incestuous moments both casual and ritual within the community (MC's brother & father feel entitled to 'read' her nude body for her/their fortunes via a series of birthmarks & moles, the ritual nude photographs by her father after she becomes a 'changeling' for the newly updated fortune telling birthmarks & moles), homophobia, toxic masculinity, toxic female friendships, a preachy MC (who enforces the misogyny, homophobia, and toxic masculinity), etc. It honestly felt like a barely there premise and there was zero warmth between the characters.TWs: incest, rape, homophobia
strangecandy's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story about how the girls are born with markings that determine their juvenile fate. As they become women, changelings, their markings change overnight to determine their permanent fate.
This story is about a brother and sister that are determined to change how fates are predicted and how they can be changed.
I enjoyed the book. Beautifully written and hard to put down. I definitely recommend this for fans of dystopian stories like The Handmaid's Tale or Vox.
This story is about a brother and sister that are determined to change how fates are predicted and how they can be changed.
I enjoyed the book. Beautifully written and hard to put down. I definitely recommend this for fans of dystopian stories like The Handmaid's Tale or Vox.
zeljana's review against another edition
3.0
Imagine you are a woman in the universe of this book, wherefrom the moment you're born you have markings on your skin that tell your future. Then, around the age of 16 you undergo a process of change into your adult person and you get more detailed markings, that set your future in stone. You are also overwhelmingly attractive for that short period of time, which can lead you to your doom.
It is a privilege to know, the characters tend to believe, and men who do not have this privilege are obsessed with knowing. They reserve the right to read the markings of their family members in order to learn more about themselves. They also get strangely attracted to all the changelings and that is when many girls are abducted, their future ruined. Because it is only their fault for allowing it to happen.
The setup for this novel was genius. What a great way to explore female agency and objectivization of the female body. But, the delivery was not great. The characters remained superficial, there were some plot holes and strange deus ex-machina solutions. More importantly, I didn't care much for the characters as there was not much depth to them. This book is centred around its message, but whenever the message is so strong, I prefer seeing more substance in the actual novel.
It is a privilege to know, the characters tend to believe, and men who do not have this privilege are obsessed with knowing. They reserve the right to read the markings of their family members in order to learn more about themselves. They also get strangely attracted to all the changelings and that is when many girls are abducted, their future ruined. Because it is only their fault for allowing it to happen.
The setup for this novel was genius. What a great way to explore female agency and objectivization of the female body. But, the delivery was not great. The characters remained superficial, there were some plot holes and strange deus ex-machina solutions. More importantly, I didn't care much for the characters as there was not much depth to them. This book is centred around its message, but whenever the message is so strong, I prefer seeing more substance in the actual novel.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic book. At first, I wasn't sure if the author was creating a false science like phrenology in the practice of reading futures from the markings on a woman's body. Soon it became clear that the markings were real and did have some connection to the future. However, as the book points out, the markings are used as a way to limit and control women. In this way, the world that Walter portrays is no different from our own. Benign qualities are used as excuses to limit and control.
Besides the feminist message, this book also offers a coming of age story of a girl grappling with fate, free will, and the tensions between desire, ambition, and socially constructed limitations. That sounds pedantic, but the book is readable and compelling. I very much enjoyed it and couldn't stop turning pages.
Besides the feminist message, this book also offers a coming of age story of a girl grappling with fate, free will, and the tensions between desire, ambition, and socially constructed limitations. That sounds pedantic, but the book is readable and compelling. I very much enjoyed it and couldn't stop turning pages.
grace_edwards's review
4.0
this book crafts an intricately beautiful metaphor for the commoditization of women’s bodies and the ways women find to take back control. It makes you angry but hopeful. i only wish there’d been 100 more pages
asiia95's review against another edition
5.0
Книга класна.
Мітки на тілах дівчат та жінок розповідають їх долю, визначають її. Приємно знати, що тебе чекає і йти цією дорогою. З іншого боку, ніяк не можна змінити долю. Це все трапиться.
Селеста та Майлс, сестра і брат, такі різні та такі схожі. Вони пережили травму та змінюють світ.
Ця книга не про те, що визначає наше майбутнє, вона про зміни, про можливість. Про те, що травма не має визначати тебе, але може змінити життя на краще. Про боротьбу з долею та світом. Про те, що завжди потрібно йти до мети.
Селеста змінюється протягом книги. Це не тільки про її мітки, але й про відношення до свого тіла, до світу, до відношення до себе, свого тіла та долі.
Коли починала читати книгу, не могла й уявити, про що вона. Наскільки сильною є ця історія. Чому вона навчить. Перша частина давалась важко. Дуже важко чекати біди, але про це все натякає. Але потім, жити з бідою, працювати над нею... легше, значно легше. Добре, що у Селести була підтримка та можливість боротися.
Дуже класна книга
Мітки на тілах дівчат та жінок розповідають їх долю, визначають її. Приємно знати, що тебе чекає і йти цією дорогою. З іншого боку, ніяк не можна змінити долю. Це все трапиться.
Селеста та Майлс, сестра і брат, такі різні та такі схожі. Вони пережили травму та змінюють світ.
Ця книга не про те, що визначає наше майбутнє, вона про зміни, про можливість. Про те, що травма не має визначати тебе, але може змінити життя на краще. Про боротьбу з долею та світом. Про те, що завжди потрібно йти до мети.
Селеста змінюється протягом книги. Це не тільки про її мітки, але й про відношення до свого тіла, до світу, до відношення до себе, свого тіла та долі.
Коли починала читати книгу, не могла й уявити, про що вона. Наскільки сильною є ця історія. Чому вона навчить. Перша частина давалась важко. Дуже важко чекати біди, але про це все натякає. Але потім, жити з бідою, працювати над нею... легше, значно легше. Добре, що у Селести була підтримка та можливість боротися.
Дуже класна книга
teapartyfortoni's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
haleyshort's review against another edition
3.0
This was a tough book for me to read. The concept was interesting and it was well constructed - the chapter openings were a creative and effective way to make the world feel more real. The allegory to sexual violence was a bit heavy handed but also impactful. It was tough to read because it felt so familiar. Girls are blamed for their attacks, men are not held accountable, an occurrence of sexual violence can and often does completely derail a woman’s life. It’s a tough pill to swallow even if you’ve lived through it.
I appreciated the author’s exploration of gender and sexuality within this very black and white world. She approached progress in a way that felt realistic but also pushed boundaries. I would be very interested to see what she does next!
I appreciated the author’s exploration of gender and sexuality within this very black and white world. She approached progress in a way that felt realistic but also pushed boundaries. I would be very interested to see what she does next!