jaredt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
I eyed this book for months before buying it. The black and blue hardcover enticed me. Finally, I decided to flip to a few random pages, figured if I liked them enough on their own I would get it. Every page I happened on was quite reflective and introspective, which I dig, so I knew it would be a fun read for me.
And it was! Went in a few directions I wasn't expecting, but still enjoyed. Though I did lose some steam in the other stories outside of Ha's. I figured there would be enough overlap or connection between the stories to give a good enough payoff, and I would say it exceeded for me.
What hooked me the most was the philosophical approach to understanding another species so different from humans, in body and nerves and mind. And it took me to really see at the end that these are cyberpunk settings, and so the story followed that setting. I knew that as soon as the technologies were introduced at the start, but its also in the way it closes up the narrative.
I would say this is not a book for folks wanting a focus on only the octopus sentience, and not interested in the cyberpunk setting and themes that come with it. Also while there is some action, it's not a book for readers looking for quick chase scenes or drawn out fights.
This *IS* a book for fans of that subgenre, as well as wanting something dealing with scifi that is quite reflective, discussing both linguistic development and the nature of humanity and connection.
Graphic: Slavery, Gore, and Death
Minor: Animal death
hendrixpants's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
creatuvre's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Slavery, Confinement, and Gun violence
Minor: Violence and Animal death
kylieqrada'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: Slavery, Death, and Trafficking
Moderate: Suicide, Animal death, and Mental illness
Minor: Self harm
runefactories's review
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Animal death
booksbutmakeitgay's review
3.0
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Suicide, Animal death, Blood, Slavery, Vomit, Death, Mental illness, and Self harm
pagesandplanets's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Animal death
bookinginheels's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
mlewis's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Slavery, and Trafficking
Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
Minor: Self harm
francisfrancis's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Slavery
Moderate: Animal death and Death