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lauren_sohn's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
ritabriar'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? It's complicated
5.0
The book is structured with periods of bad things followed with periods of recovery, making it well-balanced pacing-wise. The stakes continuously ramp up as well.
Definitely be ready to get the next book in the series when this one ends. The cliffhanger is a good one, though I do feel this book delivers on its core promises. Specifically,
The how and why of this world is revealed in digestible pieces, as knowledge is needed.
This book might help people survive this world-on-fire, too.
Queer and poly positivity abound.
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
There is a lot of possession, controlling another's body, and thought-sharing. Some is consensual, some not. The suicidessinamile's review against another edition
5.0
I really fricking appreciate that a trans character didn't have to be deadnamed to show that they're trans. I really fricking appreciate how normalized pronouns are. I really fricking appreciate how much ptsd and anxiety and such are spoken about, how real they're made. I really fricking appreciate this book!
Oh my lawrd, I love this book, okay. I love it so much!
Like okay, so much happens in this book, like these characters don't know what the word break means, but it's such a good book omg!
I love every single character in this book, even Hans who I wanted to fight so many times. I every single character that shows up in this book, I love Regan, I love Evelyn, I love Rose and Danae and Jack and I love Zilch and Finn, and Finn's bad driving, and I love Cassandra, and Jenny and Cai, and Lisette and Wren and Liam and Toto-Dandy, and even though I was feeling apprehension by the end I love Garrett, I love Gabriel and Radio Angel and I'm probably forgetting people but I love them all.
I am so excited and nervous and mostly excited for the next book. I'm excited to know what will happen next with Regan, I want to know where everyone is, if they're all safe, if they're all alive. I want to see how everyone gets out. I want to know more about Radio Angel. I want to see more of the relationships (fricking polyam for the win, my friends!)
There is so much goodness in this, so much drama and stress, but so much goodness. There is so much I want to see next! Like I am ready to get my heart broken but mended. I can't wait to see what RoAnna Sylver does, can't wait to get lost once more in the pages of their amazing writing.
I am so excited OMG!
felicitybennett's review against another edition
3.0
The characters were diverse which was great, some were more memorable than others. Some show up for 5 seconds, seem important, then you never find out anything about them. But I guess that's what book 2 is for. Others were really cool and I loved their emotional arc.
The biggest problem for me was the dialogue. I get being positive but every conversation was either "Everything is going to be okay" (the last thing you want to hear when you're upset) or "Remember to Breathe", which is fine but it was really repetitive with how many conversations went the same way. I think what bothered me about it was that the characters would speak like a mental health app chatbot.
Overall: It was good, it ended on a cliffhanger but I'm passing on the second book.
n3rdybookworm's review against another edition
2.0
willow1113'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? It's complicated
4.25
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
rosieclaverton's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself getting lost at times, but I think that reflected the chaotic nature of the setting. On the whole, I think this book was not for me, but very good in terms of characterisation and representation.
elfington's review against another edition
3.0
puttingwingsonwords'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
5.0
I love when audiobooks go the extra mile like this—the voice effects make computerised, broadcasted and ghostly voices feel more real. Aside from that, the narrator did an incredible job at giving each character a unique voice.
One thing I love about all of RoAnna Sylver’s writing is the focus on queer and disabled experiences, polyamorous families, and the inclusion of ace, aro and trans characters. Queer love is powerful and it can save the world!
Even though the characters go through a lot of very painful things, there’s always hope, always a reason to keep going and try to protect the people you love. That makes this a thrilling, emotional story that will leave you hopeful for the future.
Graphic: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail