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brittburkard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
crusoe's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Positives. I knew before starting this book that the worldbuilding would be top-notch but it defied my expectations. The worldbuilding (as it should be) is not only done at the societal level, such as the way 'city Darwinism' functions and the divide between the 'tractionists' and 'anti-tractionists', but it is also pushed through in the minute details of everyday life; from the way letter paper has been recycled so much that it has gained a rough texture to the commodification of artefacts as status symbols. It is brilliant!
I also enjoy how this novel flipped the script on the relationship between Tom and Katherine, who you feel might get together in the end as a hero/heroine couple. Instead, they don't interact after the first murder attempt on Valentine, and they grow closer to other main characters.
Lastly, I must warn you about how horrifically dark this novel gets. Because it is YA sci-fi, you might get lured into a false sense that this will be a fun, lighthearted, sci-fi adventure. But don't be fooled, you'll be met with a harrowing tale of war in which no side (not the good, nor the bad) has a clean slate, and in which life-saving decisions may take away more than is gained.
Negatives. I think the book could have benefitted from some more vibrant descriptions and colourful word usage. The scenes and worldbuilding were fantastic- the language didn't measure up. I highly suspect this is a translation issue so I will not judge the book to harshly for that.
I also enjoy how this novel flipped the script on the relationship between Tom and Katherine, who you feel might get together in the end as a hero/heroine couple. Instead, they don't interact after the first murder attempt on Valentine, and they grow closer to other main characters.
Lastly, I must warn you about how horrifically dark this novel gets. Because it is YA sci-fi, you might get lured into a false sense that this will be a fun, lighthearted, sci-fi adventure. But don't be fooled, you'll be met with a harrowing tale of war in which no side (not the good, nor the bad) has a clean slate, and in which life-saving decisions may take away more than is gained.
Negatives. I think the book could have benefitted from some more vibrant descriptions and colourful word usage. The scenes and worldbuilding were fantastic- the language didn't measure up. I highly suspect this is a translation issue so I will not judge the book to harshly for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, and Murder
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Trafficking, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Death of parent