eatingbrains's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
The bad: I knew pretty early on that this was not going to be a favorite. I don't read a lot of thrillers in general but I enjoy sci-fi so I figured I would give it a shot. I couldn't stand the main character. And thus, the book was doomed in my eyes. The pacing was jumpy, and the plot was predictable (as in, I guessed what really happened in the first chapter and the main character didn't figure it out until the ~50% mark). There was some promise for some thoughtful introspection but the approach was heavy-handed at best. Some of the descriptions were vivid and others were flat out whacky.
I don't know if I will try another book by the author, but I don't think I was the intended audience for this work so who knows what the future holds.
Minor: Abandonment, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Torture, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Self harm, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Infidelity, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
sweetsimplenothing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Kidnapping
Minor: Blood, Child death, Stalking, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, and Sexual content
moonlightreads007's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler
I love how the author dared to explore the controversial theory of parallel/multiple universes and what the implications would be if they did in fact exist. I especially enjoyed how the author further elaborated this idea by exploring the ethical implications of tampering with the multiverse in such a way that people can explore it and roam freely, and how this fundamental breakthrough would affect all the universes involved. I wonder, would there even be a universe immune to such a discovery? Let's hope to not find out, because the way the characters travel seems really dangerous.Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
keen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: Abortion
faeriefox's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
The worldbuilding between all of the worlds Jason went into was incredible; you really got the essence of each world from the start.I also really loved *our* Jason. He never lost his moral compass, unlike so many other versions of him, and as a result, Daniela chose him over the others. It was so touching, too, when so many Jasons let the family go free once they knew what Daniela wanted, culminating this beautiful love story.
I really got emotionally attached to the characters as well; I was devastated when Amanda left and constantly afraid for Charlie, Daniela, and Jason.
This book made me think a lot; it challenges so many ideas about life, love, identity, and choice.
I also appreciated the fairly easy-to-understand scientific explanations; the fact that they were understandable added so much to the book, as well as just being very interesting.
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Gun violence, Drug use, Sexual content, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Mental illness
ottercorg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed the main characters and plot, felt that Crouch told the story well. The reason I've avoided sci-fi for so long is that my brain is not good at comprehending the science part. But this book made it palatable and mostly easy to understand - which made me enjoy it even more! Only a few times did risk going over my head.
Overall, an interesting tale that kept me invested, and not just because I had nothing better to do.
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Body horror, Car accident, Death, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Kidnapping, Blood, Gun violence, Death of parent, Gore, and Stalking
dellydoos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
Let's start with the writing, shall we? Prepare yourself for a masterclass in corny writing and vague description, because all attempts at creating suspense and intrigue fell flat in this book. It's as if the author was trying to be mysterious and profound, but instead ended up being frustratingly unclear and monotonous. He repeatedly slaps you in the face with the message that life is valuable and that we shouldn't take things for granted, like thank you Dr Phil, now let me get back to my Love Island reruns. The same phrases and descriptions are regurgitated ad nauseam and felt weak. And sometimes my man Crouch didn’t even like to write in full sentences sometimes. Using full stops and line breaks like he’s writing poetry for 7th grade.
I hate.
This.
Book.
As a reader, I expected a book called Dark Matter to explore the wonders of science, but instead, there’s not one reference to dark matter, or any fucking matter for what it’s worth. This is a pitiful attempt at science fiction, where the science is painfully simplified, and the author seems more interested in throwing around random scientific terms to impress rather than educate. Take our main character for instance, Jason. He’s supposed to be this incredibly intelligent physics lecturer and scientist. So why was it, that I was piecing everything together well before he was? If you enjoy witnessing a main character being touted as intelligent only to witness them make one stupid decision after the other, then have I got a book for you.
But wait, there's an additional insult to injury for those who value feminist storytelling. Because Dark Matter fails here on multiple levels. Daniela, the so-called “the wife character,” (quotation marks to indicate how stereotypical it all was) is reduced to a mere caricature, enduring a horrific fate that includes being killed, raped by deception, and shamelessly sexualized. What I love most of all about these aspects is the way that Crouch does not address them or even really acknowledges them at all in his writing. It’s almost as there was no critical thinking, or even a sensitivity reader for this book. So if someone wants to tell me what the hell, “dark Spanish eyes,” means, that’d be great. I’d also like to point out that I wasn’t entirely sure if Daniela was a WOC or not (I skim-read majority of this book), but if she is that then makes this representation all the shittier.
I just wasn’t impressed with this book. The plot may have been more interesting if it wasn’t super predictable. Jason was a pain in my ass and played too much into the “everyman” trope to be memorable. And you know what the saddest part about this review is? I originally was only going to give this book 2 stars, but then I got to the rape-by-deception bit and said no way buddy.
1/5 stars.
Moderate: Rape and Sexism
Minor: Sexual content
zias's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Sexual content
mainjane's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping and Stalking
Moderate: Death, Torture, Gun violence, and Sexual content
efratmaor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Grief
Minor: Child death, Stalking, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, and Medical content