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buttermellow'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Medical content, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death
margolovie89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
talonsontypewriters'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Transphobia
wordsareworlds'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
4.5
I found the worldbuilding slightly confusing, but that has to do with my own ignorance of both specific Caribbean cultural references and the city of Toronto. That being said, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Hopkinson's prose is evocative and impactful, and the ways she described the magic were both awe inspiring and terrifying.
Highly recommend for people looking for a fast paced, exciting, and in many ways heart breaking, coming of age story with strong themes of motherhood, family, and holding onto culture in a place that is often hostile to it.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rorikae'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? Yes
4.5
Ti-Jeanne lives in postriots Toronto with her grandmother. Her mother disappeared when she was young and Ti-Jeanne has been working to find her place in the world. When Tony, the father of her child, comes to Ti-Jeanne's grandmother for help after the local crime boss taps him for a horrific project, Ti-Jeanne begins to learn more about her grandmother's spirits and how the violence in the city is tied to her own family.
I am amazed that this was Hopkinson's debut novel. The prose is pristine and evocative. The characters are fully fledged and engaging. The reader is plopped down into a world that feels real. I love how Hopkinson has mixed Caribbean folklore with a nearfuture Toronto setting to create something completely new and unique. There is so much that happens in this book over a relatively short amount of time and yet it is easy to follow and exciting. I cannot wait to read more of Hopkinson's work.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Abandonment
scarroll178'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
4.5
Otherwise, I liked it a lot! The storyline was really interesting, especially the domino effect Uttley caused with her whole “harm no living creature” political stance that resulted in a lot of people people being harmed lol. I loved the way the author resolved certain things that happened, like
The book also has interesting themes on forgiveness and atonement that I wish the writer would’ve delved into more.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Transphobia
kbhenrickson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Violence
sadie_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Child death and Domestic abuse
solenodon'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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
unboxedjack'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? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, and Blood