meaghanelizabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Transphobia, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Blood, Cursing, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Abortion, Dysphoria, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
yelsek's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
biblobimbo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
hurlyburlywitch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.5
tori_torido's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.5
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the character of Flora in The Book of Etta and was happy to see that she would be the main character in the third book in the Nowhere series. All three books share a travel theme: characters search for something. The Unnamed Midwife of book #1 needed hope after the plague and a safe home. Eddy of book #2 needed to come to peace with himself and find a place to be himself. Flora in book #3 already knows herself. She's sort of looking for a place where non-traditionally gendered people can be free. But she doesn't evolve or change in dramatic ways, as did the Unnamed Midwife or Eddy, so I ultimately lost interest in her story.
On the plus side: The explorations of gender identity and sexuality were interesting, feminist, and challenging. They offered stories and characters not found in many bills and for that I'm grateful to Elison.
On the plus side: The explorations of gender identity and sexuality were interesting, feminist, and challenging. They offered stories and characters not found in many bills and for that I'm grateful to Elison.
yes_asha's review against another edition
4.0
Although the thought of an archival library on water makes me anxious... this was a great read.
julianam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
eudoralynn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
I had mixed feelings when I started The Book of Flora, by Meg Elison. I loved The Book of the Unnamed Midwife and The Book of Etta, but I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Flora's story. I didn't care for Flora as I character in the Book of Etta, as Flora seemed to be heavily tied into the demise of Nowhere and the capture of Etta by the Lion. And even in the beginning of The Book of Flora, I didn't see redeaming qualities about Flora. She was a slave made into a slavers apprentice, all while being something that wasn't accepted at the time.
This book, and notabley the whole series, focuses heavily on LGBTQIA+ rights, and trying to understand where you fit into in a world not meant for you. I was happy Etta/Eddy was able to finally end up with like-minded individuals after fighting for their own beliefs for so long. As for Connie, the living child of Flora, they were an incel of their time, and it was interesting to see the slippery slope that was only recognized after they were too programmed into their beliefs.
I love the parallels between time periods, between before the Dying and after the Dying, on top of the ties into our current societal discourse regarding LGBTQIA+ rights, women's rights, and bodily autonomy.
I'm updating my review. This series was a 5/5 for me, through and through.
5/5.
This book, and notabley the whole series, focuses heavily on LGBTQIA+ rights, and trying to understand where you fit into in a world not meant for you. I was happy Etta/Eddy was able to finally end up with like-minded individuals after fighting for their own beliefs for so long. As for Connie, the living child of Flora, they were an incel of their time, and it was interesting to see the slippery slope that was only recognized after they were too programmed into their beliefs.
I love the parallels between time periods, between before the Dying and after the Dying, on top of the ties into our current societal discourse regarding LGBTQIA+ rights, women's rights, and bodily autonomy.
I'm updating my review. This series was a 5/5 for me, through and through.
5/5.