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elizabethblue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Racism and Sexism
eatyourphone's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
enjoyable, i liked the change in tone from the first book. will probably read the next when it comes out though some of the beginning and middle sections are already leaving my brain
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
elysareadsitall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I read 75% of this book. I read as much of Cora's PTSD and suicide attempts and Kaveh's helplessness and feelings of guilt as I could, and then I skipped ahead to the last chapter and newspaper insert. I don't understand what happened between the first book and the second. Book one became one of my favorite books because the first contact aspect was fascinating, the pace was fast, and the question of personhood was intriguing. In book two, the aliens' personhood is the big question, but the book barely focuses on that part. The majority of the book is stuck in Cora's and (to a lesser extent) Kaveh's trauma Their inner thoughts and problematic relationship would have been fine to explore, but not this much! I think the book completely lacks focus and reads more like literary fiction that focuses on trauma than science fiction.
I was extremely disappointed in this sequel. However, because the styles are so different, I'd give a third book a chance if she writes one. I don't know if I'd be motivated to pick up anything else she writes though.
I was extremely disappointed in this sequel. However, because the styles are so different, I'd give a third book a chance if she writes one. I don't know if I'd be motivated to pick up anything else she writes though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia
tbrnichols's review against another edition
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
Very different than the first book, but not necessarily worse, felt like the bond between the characters was much more fleshed out, though partially through the book being a bit less plot focused. A good look at panic and PTSD in an atypical setting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault and Forced institutionalization
slimy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A wildly different book in both tone and purpose from the first of this series. Truly they feel like night and day. Raises some of the same types of questions as the first in regards to humanity and our place in the universe. In honesty, I much preferred the first book. This second lacks a lot of the witty humor that made the first approachable while still feeling like a true sci-fi novel. It does however carry the extremely well-researched and thoughtful construction of worlds, both ours (as in America, 2008) and alien.
We get a second perspective in this book with the addition of Kaveh, who begins helping our main character Cora.
Kaveh's perspective is hideous and nauseating. He’s often lusting after Cora in strange and uncomfortable language, fully acknowledging the inappropriate nature of his relationship with her and deciding to continue taking sexual and manipulative advantage of her anyway. He enjoys increasing her dependency on him. He does not take her mental illness seriously, and actually uses it to push for sex. I read one scene in particular as straight up rape. I could not empathize with his character after that point, and am not sure why exactly the choice to make him do that was made. That is really the only glaring issue I had with this book, but it is a huge deal.
We get a second perspective in this book with the addition of Kaveh, who begins helping our main character Cora.
Kaveh's perspective is hideous and nauseating. He’s often lusting after Cora in strange and uncomfortable language, fully acknowledging the inappropriate nature of his relationship with her and deciding to continue taking sexual and manipulative advantage of her anyway. He enjoys increasing her dependency on him. He does not take her mental illness seriously, and actually uses it to push for sex. I read one scene in particular as straight up rape. I could not empathize with his character after that point, and am not sure why exactly the choice to make him do that was made. That is really the only glaring issue I had with this book, but it is a huge deal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
mrkthrnmln's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual assault