dchaploeb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Slavery, and Trafficking
Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape
samdalefox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
There are HUGE topics introduced such as intellectual property rights and access to medicines, slavery/indenture, autonomy, robotic intelligence, corporate capitalism, and climate change and none are sufficiently explored. The novel simply needed to be longer with more depth to give us time to immerse ourselves in the jargon-overfilled world and actually get to know these characters and feel the lives they are living and the consequences of their actions. The whole thing came across more superficial that intended, especially considering the moral arguments around literally any one of the topics listed above. Even the goddamn romances were superficial. I found the ending pleasing in some areas, anticlimatic overall, and a bit confusing
Spoiler
why did the story end focussing upon Paladin and Eliasz instead of Jack?Andystone's review sums it up:
"...The plot follows two different sets of characters, switching off every chapter until the climax where they meet… for all of one page. There was no discussion, no one learned anything and nothing was solved. By the time I got through 80% of the story, I worried that there wouldn’t be enough time to do something compelling to give a reason for the trials and tribulations of the previous couple hundred pages. Sadly, those worries were well founded...."
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, and Slavery
Minor: Sexual content, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Colonisation, and Violence
mirrorstarweb's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Slavery, and Transphobia
Moderate: Violence and Torture
electricshe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I didn’t find the characters likeable—as in, I wouldn’t want to be friends with any of them—but I did find them interesting, varied, with clear motivation. I don’t think they developed much through the story (with the exception of Paladin, maaaaaybe) so that felt a bit lacking. I also thought that things fell in line very neatly for Eliasz and Paladin. They seemed to find just who/what they needed on the first try in every location they visited, which I thought pushed “fast-paced” into “somewhat unbelievable” territory.
Despite that, I really liked the story. I was interested in what it had to say about ownership, capitalism, AI, labour. It doesn’t try to solve this whole future world’s problems—or even wholly lay them out—which feels frustrating, but is simply not within the scope of the plot. I don’t think it shouldn’t examine them just because it can’t wrap them up neatly in a bow.
I liked the flashbacks to Jack’s younger years and how it fleshed out what was happening in the present. Even as I didn’t like the characters, I appreciated the glimpses we got of how they came to be who they were. I felt such intense dislike for Eliasz as the story progressed, but relished in their half of the story as we got to see his influence on Paladin. It’s all sort of messed up, and their ‘romance’ is meant to be uncomfortable. It reads like first love between teens—even in the dialogue—and it really makes me think of what will happen to them as Paladin comes into its autonomy.
Anyway, I could go on. I don’t think it’s perfect, but I did really enjoy it and think it leaves lots to think about. Worth the read, for sure.
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse
quihi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Classism, Addiction, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, and Slavery
Moderate: Homophobia
blotchedspots's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
bookishplantmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Slavery
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Homophobia, and Slavery
Minor: Rape
jenny_d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Slavery
hazelmh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Moderate: Homophobia and Slavery
Minor: Death and Rape