pearlisarobot's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Confinement, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Pandemic/Epidemic
norwegianforestreader'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide, War, Vomit, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Colonisation, Confinement, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexism
scifi_rat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Prose: 3.5★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4.75★/3.75★
Characters: 3★
Worldbuilding: 4★
Ending: 4★
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Gun violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Murder, Sexism, Stalking, War, Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, and Forced institutionalization
corncake's review
4.0
Minor: Suicide, War, Gun violence, Alcohol, Death, and Sexism
rianreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and War
bookish_cat_lady's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, and Colonisation
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and War
There’s a lot of mentions of pandemics and illness, too.horizonous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Terminal illness and Colonisation
Minor: Murder, Sexism, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, War, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Vomit
◦ Death = the theme of◦ Mental illness = PTSD
◦ Terminal illness = various pandemic diseases
colie923's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: War, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Forced institutionalization
gjkennedy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Beyond that, it was a really good book. The answer became satisfying at the very last second, and for me every reveal was both perfectly reasonable but still surprising, though I suspect if you read slower and take more time to think you may be able to guess yourself. However, I dont see good foreshadowing as a downside, just a note. Not a five star because while it was perfectly pleasant and well written, it didn’t really evoke a really strong feeling for me. I enjoyed the characters and there were good moments of sympathy, but I never felt close enough to them to touch what they were feeling myself. But again, that may just be me. I would 100% recommend this book for a quick read for someone looking for an upside to the life theyre living.
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Gore, War, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Forced institutionalization
starrysteph's review
- 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
3.25
We cross huge spans of time in this novel, but the writing style stays the same. I wanted more differentiation between the voices of characters in 1912 and 2020 and far into the future. I also felt that there was a lack of creativity or perhaps "realism" when we go far into the future. Why are things EXACTLY the same as they are in 2020? Yes, people live on the moon, but there isn't any nuance here.
I also felt some frustration at the recklessness and thoughtlessness of Gaspery's decisions. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but the choices he made and the shifting of timelines felt too simplistic and didn't make sense. And in general, I didn't find myself making deep emotional connections to any of the characters. (And there was some content around Olive as a writer of pandemic stories that felt like a clear self-insert and was a little silly.)
Overall, I enjoyed the concept. I enjoyed the weaving together of the stories (though it became a little cliche by the end). I enjoyed the writing style. But once I zoomed in and thought a bit more critically about the material, I found myself disappointed.
CW: chronic illness, confinement, death, colonisation, murder, gun violence, suicide, war, alcohol, pandemic, sexism
Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Medical content, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Car accident, Gun violence, Sexism, and Suicide