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ducktofu's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
hue's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
The first two halves of this book were somewhat tedious. At times I found myself bored with the progression of the story and how utterly slow it felt, as if it wasn't moving forward at all. I still much enjoyed Noria's narration, though I can't say I'm a fan of past tense first pov.
But the third half of the book is what really hooked me. If the entire book would've been written with such ripe and flowing narration I would've devoured it within moments. I had to read the last forty or so pages without batting an eye; the need for answers and explanations was too mighty.I can't say I hated the open ending either. And I am glad to know Sanja wasn't killed nor taken captive, yet still forced to run from what she knew and who she loved. Absolutely shattered Noria and her won't meet again (or so it seems).
All in all, not a bad read. I still much prefer Emmi Itäranta's other work, A City of Woven Streets, but perhaps I'm biased.
But the third half of the book is what really hooked me. If the entire book would've been written with such ripe and flowing narration I would've devoured it within moments. I had to read the last forty or so pages without batting an eye; the need for answers and explanations was too mighty.
All in all, not a bad read. I still much prefer Emmi Itäranta's other work, A City of Woven Streets, but perhaps I'm biased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Death of parent
drybay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
Poetically written dystopian story about world running out of clean water. The worldbuilding is great, I really like the characters and the tense atmopshere works great. This does everything a good dystopian novel does: it tells how we ended up like this and makes one feel this could and should be prevented in the real world.
To me, this is a modern classic.
To me, this is a modern classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Blood, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Colonisation and War
kayleejanes's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and War
emmagiverny's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
A quiet, gentle book set somewhere in dystopian Scandinavia.
There were a few aspects of the central mystery that I wanted to find out more about, but we never did. The story/author are mostly concerned with the very specific story of a few characters rather than wider world building.
This is fine and leads to an emotional end, however I did find there were a few flaws in the world building I just couldn’t quite get over. The world is post-societal collapse, although there are still cities with significant infrastructure (such as trains that still run), but people have lost the ability/knowledge to desalinate water. The people also never seem to mention or be particularly low on food, despite water being so strictly rationed.
There were a few aspects of the central mystery that I wanted to find out more about, but we never did. The story/author are mostly concerned with the very specific story of a few characters rather than wider world building.
This is fine and leads to an emotional end, however I did find there were a few flaws in the world building I just couldn’t quite get over. The world is post-societal collapse, although there are still cities with significant infrastructure (such as trains that still run), but people have lost the ability/knowledge to desalinate water. The people also never seem to mention or be particularly low on food, despite water being so strictly rationed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
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