f18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Torture, Child death, Bullying, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Medical trauma, Blood, Abandonment, Slavery, and Gore
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, Animal death, Cannibalism, Alcohol, and Rape
unwanted pregnancydelphinaris'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Bullying, Animal death, Alcohol, Infertility, Infidelity, Child death, Abandonment, Cannibalism, Xenophobia, War, Vomit, Violence, Transphobia, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Slavery, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Colonisation, Classism, Confinement, and Child abuse
This book is majorly fucked up; especially the scenes in the Fulcrum. Read at your own risk.the_bees_books'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Violence, Genocide, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Slavery, Classism, Xenophobia, War, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
kemrick19'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Child death, Torture, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore, Ableism, Classism, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, War, Cursing, Transphobia, Pregnancy, Vomit, Pedophilia, and Sexism
stierwood'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? It's complicated
4.0
I didn’tunderstand the use of the 2nd person until about 2/3rds thru the book, and then thought it was rlly clever.
Characters were complex and loveable.
I have a history degree. That this book focuses on history, how it is told, and who writes it was so good to read and exceptionally well-done. The lore was sooo fleshed out.
A hard one to read in a slump. The world building was complex so thank gd for the appendix.
Dark, but never unnecessarily so.
Except every modern dystopian piece of media i have consumed recently has had cannibalism in it and my tummy hurts.
Graphic: Transphobia, Slavery, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Body horror, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Racism, Sexual content, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, War, Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, and Sexual harassment
heckgoshdang'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Genocide
Moderate: Colonisation, Cannibalism, Gore, Sexual content, Transphobia, Medical content, Racial slurs, Classism, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, Racism, Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
ghostofefrant'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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Death, Body horror, and Child death
Moderate: Bullying, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic
natalie_gumm'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Classism, Racism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Body horror, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Rape, Medical content, Child death, and Pedophilia
cryosphinx'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
4.75
I picked this up years ago on a recommendation for fans of the game Horizon: Zero Dawn and I am MAD at myself for taking so long to actually read this.
Jemisin is masterful and poetic in her writing and there are so many beautiful passages. There isn't too much detail I can into it as it's very twist and turny from the beginning and saying anything more than the blurb will take away from the experience.
The book pivots between the point of view of three women, one of which being in second person. It takes some getting used to, if only because I think this may be the second time ever I read a book in that POV. The characters are all bad asses in a unique way and the growth is immaculate.
I wanted to give this a 5 but people are correct in that the world building, while a fantastic world that does take on being a character of its own, there are some confusing terms that either don't get fully explained or take a long time to make sense. Don't make my mistake: there IS an appendix in the back that I discovered once I finished the book. There is occasional upsetting content so check triggers. The Stillness is a harsh world.
I'm glad I already had the second book on hand or I would have made a mad dash to buy it. I can't wait to jump right back in and explore more of the Stillness.
Graphic: Death, Murder, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Cursing, Classism, and Sexual content
Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
buffy87'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? It's complicated
3.5
Content: complicated, I needed to take notes. Multilayered, you learn as you go what's happening, a fantasy with heavy science element, very long intro but I enjoy the MC.
Asexual: two explicit sex scenes, casual mention of sex, not a lot of physical intimacy
Recc: higher literacy levels, HS+ but some jr high kids could read it if advanced,
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death, War, Child death, Genocide, Slavery, Body horror, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts