cnewby927's review against another edition
4.0
This book reminds me of a few other books that I would say some inspirations came from but I still really enjoyed this story. I think me favorite part about this book was the world building. There are a few different cultures that we get to learn about and I really enjoyed that. This book follows three different characters; First Sister, Hiro, and Lito. Hiro's parts are told through recordings which I liked. I was definitely most interested in First Sister's story but Lito's picked up after a bit. I'm interested to see where this story goes.
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
3.0
The ending of this feels a bit rushed, some things just needed more setup, but other than that I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I'll definitely pick up the next book.
phantasmfiend's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
mdieckmann's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t sure about this book initially — when I first stared reading it felt like I had opened up the book in the middle of the story, so I had to read quite a few chapters until I felt like I understood who the characters were and the larger world the author built around them. The book is based around 3 POVs and rotates through them in a pattern, so it had a bit of a stop-and-go feel to the flow — but I’m not complaining too much because I loved hearing from all the characters. As a reader, your lens in this book is shaped by war just like the characters are, so you’re reading about a nameless orphan who has been forced into basically prostituting herself in the name of religion as she tries to escape through receiving the favored title of the First Sister, Lito a soldier from the slums of an affluent planet who has forced himself up the rungs of the military elite and purges emotions away with an implant embedded in his brain, and Hiro our duplicitous nine-tailed fox who too struggles in this world that tosses people into the war machine and doesn’t care where it spits them out.
But let me tell you — by the end I was absolutely ensnared. I love Hiros and Litos relationship and the bone-deep soul-shattering love and care that they have for each other. This author has some of the most seamless use of they/them pronouns I have read thus far, and Hiros enby characterization was handled with care and complexity. I also am obsessed with the First Sister’s character arc bc there is nothing I appreciate more than female characters becoming unhinged and burning down the world (or the world that has been built to control them) !! hehe
AND THE PLOT TWISTS AT THE END WOW!! spectacular and immaculate queer content.
To me, the content was reminiscent of “Ender’s Game” and had the lyrical quality of “This is how you lose the time war”
But let me tell you — by the end I was absolutely ensnared. I love Hiros and Litos relationship and the bone-deep soul-shattering love and care that they have for each other. This author has some of the most seamless use of they/them pronouns I have read thus far, and Hiros enby characterization was handled with care and complexity. I also am obsessed with the First Sister’s character arc bc there is nothing I appreciate more than female characters becoming unhinged and burning down the world (or the world that has been built to control them) !! hehe
AND THE PLOT TWISTS AT THE END WOW!! spectacular and immaculate queer content.
To me, the content was reminiscent of “Ender’s Game” and had the lyrical quality of “This is how you lose the time war”
brennalynne's review against another edition
4.0
Excuse me while I scream... this book hooked its claws into me from the moment the two chapters were started with: The first time I ever saw you, Lito, I loved you. The first time I met Hiro, I hated them - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"If we lose ourselves," I whisper to them, "we lose ourselves together." A shudder runs through Hiro. Their head dips. A little sob escapes them. Then they slouch, melting into my arms. Accepting that I am here with them. That we are together - Page 286
When I tell you this scene knocked me the fuck out (see spoiler above)... ugh. Just stab me in the heart, it will hurt less.
If the next book doesn't have sufficient scenes/longing between my two traumatized idiots I will RIOT. I need either more flashbacks with them or another reunion PLEASE.
Spoiler
"If we lose ourselves," I whisper to them, "we lose ourselves together." A shudder runs through Hiro. Their head dips. A little sob escapes them. Then they slouch, melting into my arms. Accepting that I am here with them. That we are together - Page 286
When I tell you this scene knocked me the fuck out (see spoiler above)... ugh. Just stab me in the heart, it will hurt less.
If the next book doesn't have sufficient scenes/longing between my two traumatized idiots I will RIOT. I need either more flashbacks with them or another reunion PLEASE.
heysunbee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
polaris42's review against another edition
3.0
Rep : white bi mc, latinx bi(?) mc, japanese nonbinary mc
CW : Empire, loss of voice, sexism, sexual violence, sexual assult, (More likely- some are hard to put into words)
Actual Rating : 3 stars
I have complicated feelings about this book. On one hand I really like what it tries to do, the premise is great. I love the First Sister, she's really well written and I like the amount of thought and development that has gone into her character arc and growth. The themes are well explored too, and for a book that deals with very heavy topics it did a good job of epxloring them thoroughly.
However I found the pacing very slow, and for me that's something I struggle with when reading. The structure of changing perspective really didn't work for me. But it'd probably work for other people. The perspectives weren't linked enough and I cared far more about the first sister then I did for the other perspectives.
Recommended for: sci fi fans looking for something very heavy with changing perspective.
CW : Empire, loss of voice, sexism, sexual violence, sexual assult, (More likely- some are hard to put into words)
Actual Rating : 3 stars
I have complicated feelings about this book. On one hand I really like what it tries to do, the premise is great. I love the First Sister, she's really well written and I like the amount of thought and development that has gone into her character arc and growth. The themes are well explored too, and for a book that deals with very heavy topics it did a good job of epxloring them thoroughly.
However I found the pacing very slow, and for me that's something I struggle with when reading. The structure of changing perspective really didn't work for me. But it'd probably work for other people. The perspectives weren't linked enough and I cared far more about the first sister then I did for the other perspectives.
Recommended for: sci fi fans looking for something very heavy with changing perspective.
sapphic_book_dragon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0