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zombiezami's review
4.25
All of the big emotional inflections in the book definitely hit, for example, "
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Colonisation
lanid'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
4.25
Graphic: War
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Bullying and Cancer
ne0n_ange1'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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, and War
bookbrig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
My favorite bit is the first of the 3 segments, as I got to know the main characters and learn about the technology and world. I particularly love the balletic and cinematic way Onyebuchi writes the mech fights and the other battles, giving the story a hectic and overwhelming feel during those scenes. For my taste, some of the later parts a little slow after the opening action, but ymmv depending on how you like your sci-fi. I also have some spoilery thoughts about frustrations with a few characters' motivations, if you do read this and want to talk!
Finally, read the author's note. I knew so little about the actual history that inspired this story, so I'm planning to read several of the non-fiction titles referenced in the note.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Slavery, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Misogyny, Racism, and Vomit
goblingirlreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Let's talk about what makes this book amazing: This is a sci-fi is based on a real conflict: The Biafran War, also known as the Nigerian Civil War. The book has incredible world-building. I had a complete picture of how war was waged in this world through the use of droids, child soldiers that are fully synth, soldiers having augmented parts that replace what human parts they've lost in battle and of course the mecha that are piloted in huge epic battles. I grew to really love the characters. The world was incredibly bleaI but I felt it gave a clear picture of how war affects people, soldiers, children, entire countries, the planet
That said, I had a huge issue with the pacing in the book. The first section of the book was absolutely perfect to me but the second section jumped back and forth between two characters in two different locations. The chapters were so short that it felt a little whiplashy and like I couldn't get really excited about one story before it jumped back to another. Finally, the third section could have been its own book and felt extremely rushed. I wish this book had spent a little more time in the editing phase to smooth out some of these pacing issues because overall it's incredible and has so much to offer.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death and Drug use