raptorq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Miscarriage, Murder, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence and Blood
lamegod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Sexism, Violence, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Cursing, Abortion, Blood, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
qteabeans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Child death
Minor: Infidelity, Gun violence, and Alcohol
20sidedbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Infertility, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Slavery, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Abortion, and Suicidal thoughts
sarahjulianna'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Sexism, Confinement, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
nostradamnus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's very frustrating to like this book less than The Handmaid's Tale because I think this book is arguably better--it has higher and more specific spec-to-fic ratio, characters that were real, and a really graphic description of watching someone give birth--but I read THT years ago, and I read FHOTLG in 2023. It's the day after my state put in an emergency stop for all trans healthcare. Roe v. Wade is dead. Abortion pills may be next. And I think right now, forced birthing centers, pregnancy policing, and a rising Christo-fascist government just feel a bit too real.
Maybe I'll be able to reread this in a few years and be able to really take it all in, appreciate it for what it is, but wrong place, wrong time.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Misogyny
Moderate: Torture and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts
maria_elizabeth_harden_pope'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? It's complicated
2.75
Minor: Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Forced institutionalization
badmom's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Medical trauma, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Racism, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Torture, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, and Genocide
rachaelwho's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I think the people who didn't like this book wanted it to be spookier and more sci-fi. This is a book about motherhood, womanhood, pregnancy, autonomy, family, ancestry, and what we owe each other. Authoritarianism and institutionalization, too. It is also about climate and catastrophe, near-future dystopia. The sci-fi conceit isn't superfluous, but this isn't quite "genre fiction" and if you wanted to get into that, I guess you probably wouldn't love this one. Reviews hung up on the "science" of the setting not making sense are... Really stunningly, jaw-droppingly missing the forest.
Graphic: Police brutality, Pregnancy, Death, Child death, Confinement, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
madarauchiha's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
“How come you’ve looked after me?” I ask Hiro just as he’s about to go. “How come you found me at the hospital? Brought me the messages?”
Hiro looks surprised at my question, taken aback, as though I should know. “You were on my route,” he says.
Fave line. Hiro being a USPS Postal worker, for context.
content warnings
minor abortion, asian racism, child abuse, cissexism, drug use hard drugs, emetophobia, rape, sexual content, sexual violence, torture, victim blaming
medium alcohol use, anti evolutionary sentiment, anti indigenous racism, anti vaccination sentiment, child abuse, child death, colonization, gambling, kidnapping, racism, suicide ideation, whorephobic language
major animal death, bullying, childbirth, confinement, medical abuse, medical content, misogyny, police, police abuse, pregnancy, religion catholic, reproductive rights, slut shaming, unsanitary,
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Pregnancy, Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racism, Abortion, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Ableism