Reviews with content warning for Rape - Nuncanoche

I found this reading to be quite lengthy, 750 pages in French, with lengths, descriptions of little interest and useless. Still, the author has potential, but there are far too many similes and metaphors that quite often mean nothing (aka the oinking sea). I would have preferred that the information passed more clearly. The footnotes are far too numerous: I didn't read most of them because I was lost in my reading.

Wordbuilding is pretty good, even if we are drowned by pieces of information. They are useless to us since we do not travel in the universe. The atmosphere is actually quite good, very dark (small trigger warning). I just wish Mia's powers were more emphasized, this is one of her peculiarities, and it is not "used" and even left out for much of the story. Some characters were quite good, but I must admit I didn't appreciate the competitiveness between girls while the guys stay aside to watch the show… Big up to Mister Kindly. I loved him! He is very well thought out, original and brilliant! As for the end, I can't find much to say, except maybe "All that fuss for nothing?". We end up with a kind of reversal of the situation that made me a little angry because it concerns a character we only see twice. So whether he is there or not, it does not change the plot. I also find that his end does not stick to the characters. The author gives us specific pictures of his characters, but he does not even respect them.

I hated the hyper-sexualization of Mia and women in general. I didn't like how the author described the female body (which really embarrassed me and made me feel like an object or a curiosity). This femme fatale role could have been well thought out if it had not been glued to a 16-year-old girl. He wrote scenes of s*xual relationships between two children (16 and 17 years old), and I found that very unhealthy. I don't understand what this brings to the story apart from voyeurism and unease. I could also talk for hours about my anger at Mia's body "transformation" scene. She does not give her consent. I did not feel any rebellion on her part. Aalea has a tremendous hold on her to the point of handling her. But a woman does not have to answer the criteria set by men to be beautiful and desirable. Warning, also romanticization of death and suicide through metaphors; some people can be triggered.

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tanzanitedragoness's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The fact that this is a comfort read probably says something about me, but it is. It’s dark, and twisted, and heart wrenching, and oddly soothing if only because it’s 9meone else’s bullshit and not my own. It’s got a fair bit of dark humour, and I quite love the narrator.

The footnotes, which many other reviews seem to take issue with, seem entirely appropriate. After all, you would not describe how days and nights work if setting a book on earth, nor explain what Asia is. However you might mention these if you were translating a copy of that same story for distribution on another world, which is what these footnotes indicate is the case.

The narrative tone is decidedly poetic, snarky, and crass. The narrator is a bit pretentious and it’s entertaining to snark them back in the margins, they deserve it utterly. I rather like them. I still half think it’s the not-cat. Edit: four pages into the second and it’s either the cat or the librarian.

Now on to the second book, because appearently I’m spending the evening reading half a dozen gut wrenchers despite sanity trying to intervene.

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commander_zander's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

Freaking great.

This is a R-rated YA-style book about young assassins. It's irreverent, unapologetic, & very extra. The characters are largely amoral, which is refreshing. It has lots of gratuitous violence & jokes about sexual violence. If that sounds off-putting then skip this book.

If you like YA books that are weird & extra, you might love this. What i love about this book is its passionate enthusiasm, its overflowing love for the Red Church, its charisma, & its surprisingly great plot twists.

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