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cyanelle's review against another edition
dark
tense
0.25
Full review pending because this book was such a disappointment that I actually feel compelled to write one for once.
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Review (contains spoilers):
I don't tend to write reviews for books. I'm not a particularly analytical reader, I read because I like to and I read specifically for stories and characters that I'll enjoy. I'm generally pretty forgiving of a book's flaws as long as I'm enjoying the story being told. This book, however, was deeply disappointing.
The way we as readers interact with and enjoy books is heavily informed by our personal experiences, therefore I feel it is important here to say that I am an asexual woman with a severe anxiety disorder. These things were a major factor in how this series reads for me as an individual.
I loved Axiom's End. I loved the dynamic between Cora and Ampersand so very much, I loved that we got to see them slowly gain trust in each other, build a friendship, and even have the beginnings of romantic feelings for each other. I loved that their relationship wasn't a sexual one, that it grew solely out of their getting to know each other. The newness and weirdness of feeling affection for an alien (for both of them) was so delightful to read, and Truth of the Divine ruined all of that buildup in the very first chapters.
I quickly pivoted from excitement about reading more of their story together to disappointment as their dynamic took a backseat, which eventually turned to disgust as Cora developed a sexual relationship with Kaveh. It made my skin crawl. It felt predatory. It read so much like my previous relationships as an ace woman, forcing myself into situations I didn't actually want and that were not at all good for my mental health or psyche, because I felt broken, and because I wanted to feel normal, and because I thought that I wasn't loveable otherwise. Because I was lonely. Every single sexual encounter she has with Kaveh, while not exactly nonconsensual, read as uncomfortable, forced, and creepy. They're in a strange gray area. I spent each of these chapters wondering if there was a critique in here somewhere about how sex doesn't heal trauma, but I couldn't help but read them as an earnest message that sex is magic and healing. Even as Kaveh acknowledges to himself a few times that this is not healthy, he continues the relationship and eventually things between them become... Fine? I guess? I find this incredibly damaging. This sort of mentality leads to toxic relationships for so many people (ace or not) and it was so disappointing to see it coming from this author.
On a related note, Lindsay Ellis had previously posted an author's note (no idea if it's still up) for Axiom's End that Luciana is asexual (maybe it was demisexual. Either way.), and I have to say: I don't know what she thought she was doing with this, but it is a piss poor excuse for representation, especially when the one sexual relationship so far in the series reads like *this* one does.
This was honestly the point at which I had to put the book down for several days. Not the suicide attempt, or the panic attacks, but the deeply troubling relationship between Cora and Kaveh that is somehow, still, being presented as a positive. I don't know that I can forgive it.
The tone shift from the first installment is jarring as well. I don't mind reading difficult topics, but after reading the authors note at the beginning I was immediately wary. There are books that I feel cover heavy topics such as those listed in the note quite well. This book is not among them. It tries so hard to be an exploration of trauma and mental health and it utterly fails. I think Lindsay has gone a little too far into the need to write things as they would "really happen" (this extends to the geopolitical aspects as well). This is just too bleak. It's hopeless, helpless, and few readers will enjoy that level of bleakness for very long. Certainly not this long.
I've never actually been angry with an author I had previously liked after finishing a new book, until now.
---
Review (contains spoilers):
The way we as readers interact with and enjoy books is heavily informed by our personal experiences, therefore I feel it is important here to say that I am an asexual woman with a severe anxiety disorder. These things were a major factor in how this series reads for me as an individual.
I loved Axiom's End. I loved the dynamic between Cora and Ampersand so very much, I loved that we got to see them slowly gain trust in each other, build a friendship, and even have the beginnings of romantic feelings for each other. I loved that their relationship wasn't a sexual one, that it grew solely out of their getting to know each other. The newness and weirdness of feeling affection for an alien (for both of them) was so delightful to read, and Truth of the Divine ruined all of that buildup in the very first chapters.
I quickly pivoted from excitement about reading more of their story together to disappointment as their dynamic took a backseat, which eventually turned to disgust as Cora developed a sexual relationship with Kaveh. It made my skin crawl. It felt predatory. It read so much like my previous relationships as an ace woman, forcing myself into situations I didn't actually want and that were not at all good for my mental health or psyche, because I felt broken, and because I wanted to feel normal, and because I thought that I wasn't loveable otherwise. Because I was lonely. Every single sexual encounter she has with Kaveh, while not exactly nonconsensual, read as uncomfortable, forced, and creepy. They're in a strange gray area. I spent each of these chapters wondering if there was a critique in here somewhere about how sex doesn't heal trauma, but I couldn't help but read them as an earnest message that sex is magic and healing. Even as Kaveh acknowledges to himself a few times that this is not healthy, he continues the relationship and eventually things between them become... Fine? I guess? I find this incredibly damaging. This sort of mentality leads to toxic relationships for so many people (ace or not) and it was so disappointing to see it coming from this author.
On a related note, Lindsay Ellis had previously posted an author's note (no idea if it's still up) for Axiom's End that Luciana is asexual (maybe it was demisexual. Either way.), and I have to say: I don't know what she thought she was doing with this, but it is a piss poor excuse for representation, especially when the one sexual relationship so far in the series reads like *this* one does.
This was honestly the point at which I had to put the book down for several days. Not the suicide attempt, or the panic attacks, but the deeply troubling relationship between Cora and Kaveh that is somehow, still, being presented as a positive. I don't know that I can forgive it.
The tone shift from the first installment is jarring as well. I don't mind reading difficult topics, but after reading the authors note at the beginning I was immediately wary. There are books that I feel cover heavy topics such as those listed in the note quite well. This book is not among them. It tries so hard to be an exploration of trauma and mental health and it utterly fails. I think Lindsay has gone a little too far into the need to write things as they would "really happen" (this extends to the geopolitical aspects as well). This is just too bleak. It's hopeless, helpless, and few readers will enjoy that level of bleakness for very long. Certainly not this long.
I've never actually been angry with an author I had previously liked after finishing a new book, until now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
fifth_magpie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Antisemitism
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Rape, and Islamophobia
xeniaaaaaah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse
qoutrot's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
bean_7088's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Oof... that was a rough one.
Wanna be sad about the human race? Wanna feel fairly hopless? This one is for you!
It does end on a hopeful note... but like that hopefulness is somewhat undercut by the way the character speakin treated.
This one had a lot of tense scenes I wanted to hide from. I had to stop a lot and explain what was going on to my roommate so I could get those jitters out. Like, a televised "discussion" between two different sides of the alien personhood debate. A hearing where unknown evidence comes up.
Anyways, it was still really good.
I'm not sure how I felt about Kaveh. And I'm not sure if it was how he was written or just his voice actor 😅 I'm sure the guy is normally fine, but the main voice actor Stephanie Willis is so incredible that switching to him is quite jarring.
Waring that Cora goes through a lot, this poor kid traumatized over and over. And Stephanie Willis will make you feel it. Listening to Cora's Panic attacks was very distressing.
The ending left on such a wild note I am excited to see where the 3rd book will go. Now I just have to wait 7 months 🥲
Wanna be sad about the human race? Wanna feel fairly hopless? This one is for you!
It does end on a hopeful note... but like that hopefulness is somewhat undercut by the way the character speakin treated.
This one had a lot of tense scenes I wanted to hide from. I had to stop a lot and explain what was going on to my roommate so I could get those jitters out. Like, a televised "discussion" between two different sides of the alien personhood debate. A hearing where unknown evidence comes up.
Anyways, it was still really good.
I'm not sure how I felt about Kaveh. And I'm not sure if it was how he was written or just his voice actor 😅 I'm sure the guy is normally fine, but the main voice actor Stephanie Willis is so incredible that switching to him is quite jarring.
Waring that Cora goes through a lot, this poor kid traumatized over and over. And Stephanie Willis will make you feel it. Listening to Cora's Panic attacks was very distressing.
The ending left on such a wild note I am excited to see where the 3rd book will go. Now I just have to wait 7 months 🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Lindsay Ellis does a big Content Warning before everything starts. At least in the audio book.ghoul_girl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
mikkiokko's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
However, the biggest problem for me in this book was Kaveh and Cora's relationships. I had a lot of problems with it. I understand that Kaveh is a flawed character and there are certain aspects about him that I do empathize with. But, I felt like much of the time he was too emotionally immature to be in a relationship with Cora, especially while she was struggling severely from PTSD and self-harming tendencies. He often neglected her feelings and well-being completely so that he could have sex with her all while having an insane savior complex. And look, when he got died at the hands of some psycho redneck fascist I did feel bad for him, but I also wished that instead of him dying being the exit of his character it would have been something more along the lines of Cora leaving him or them both leaving each other that way his serious flaws could've been acknowledged better. Instead it felt like much of that was glossed over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
emilb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
beccaand's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization
kanonkita's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.75
Very well written. I had some issues with the slow pacing of the first book in this series that I felt this one largely managed to avoid. Some aspects of the main character were a bit grating at times, but in one sense that was the point. She was struggling with trauma and mental health issues related to that, and I think Ellis did a good job portraying how these things can make someone difficult to deal with or be around.
That being said, maybe avoid the audiobook unless you really enjoy listening to tremulous female voices shouting "No no no" over and over again ever few minutes. The computerized sound effect that was put over the Amygdalans' voices in the audiobook could also be grating at times and made it difficult to hear them if there was any background noise while I was listening.
Overall, I would recommend it, but do pay attention to the content warning Ellis provides at the beginning of the novel.
Also, a note that I have not seen this book listed as LGBTQ+ in many places, which I can only chalk up to bi erasure. Cora is bisexual, and it seems unfair that this gets overlooked just because she has a heterosexual romance, especially given that it occurs alongside her very queer relationship with an alien who only uses he/him pronouns out of convenience.
That being said, maybe avoid the audiobook unless you really enjoy listening to tremulous female voices shouting "No no no" over and over again ever few minutes. The computerized sound effect that was put over the Amygdalans' voices in the audiobook could also be grating at times and made it difficult to hear them if there was any background noise while I was listening.
Overall, I would recommend it, but do pay attention to the content warning Ellis provides at the beginning of the novel.
Also, a note that I have not seen this book listed as LGBTQ+ in many places, which I can only chalk up to bi erasure. Cora is bisexual, and it seems unfair that this gets overlooked just because she has a heterosexual romance, especially given that it occurs alongside her very queer relationship with an alien who only uses he/him pronouns out of convenience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail