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kappafrog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
What a wonderful book. I loved the slow pace of Ofelia finally getting the chance to come into her own. I loved the People and their society. . On the one hand, this was a classic first contact story in the vein of the best Star Trek. On the other hand, it was totally unique in its main character, and that shaped the book into something unique too.
The colony was pretty dystopian with such strong conservative values that it led to murder. It could have been interesting to see that explored a bit more, but actually, it was conveyed pretty well by the conditioning we saw Ofelia breaking out of.
This book will stay with me for a long time!
The colony was pretty dystopian with such strong conservative values that it led to murder. It could have been interesting to see that explored a bit more, but actually, it was conveyed pretty well by the conditioning we saw Ofelia breaking out of.
This book will stay with me for a long time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Deportation
Minor: Body shaming, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Dementia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bea_evans's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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
4.0
Read for book club. Enjoyed it. Definite world building but with “old world” touches. Role of women in various traditions, role of older women, in particular, examined. Spears our attempts to understand others while not leaving our own perspective.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
yrioona's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
I love the way Elizabeth Moon builds suspense and emotional investment through deceptively slow, gentle, narration of day-to-day existence and the gradual transformation of the main character's inner life. This was a really warm, human, approach to a first contact story that mostly avoided cliche and over-sentimentality, quietly raising its stakes until suddenly I couldn't put it down. Really enjoyable and affecting and perfectly paced.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence