A review by tangleroot_eli
Love Is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
I friggin love Alaya Dawn Johnson's writing. While I saw clear thematic similarities between this and The Summer Prince, TSP is lush and lyrical, as befits its solarpunk setting, while Love is the Drug is tense and taut as befits the frantic events of the plot. Not many authors can change tone that deftly, and it's a real treat to watch Johnson do it.
Reading this 2014 book now, as COVID languishes on, is a wild ride. The martial law, nationwide curfew, and actual quarantining - none of this wishy-washy golly it'd be great if y'all could stay home if you don't have a gosh-darned good reason to leave - reminded me how much more severe the US's pandemic response could've been. At the same time, it showed me how cynical I've become about abuse of power.
Reading this 2014 book now, as COVID languishes on, is a wild ride. The martial law, nationwide curfew, and actual quarantining - none of this wishy-washy golly it'd be great if y'all could stay home if you don't have a gosh-darned good reason to leave - reminded me how much more severe the US's pandemic response could've been. At the same time, it showed me how cynical I've become about abuse of power.
Spoiler
One of the book's big reveals is that DC's rich and powerful movers and shakers and their families were secretly vaccinated before the rest of the nation even knew the vaccine existed. Most of the characters were shocked and appalled by this discovery, but to me it just felt like business as usual.Spoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Medical content, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia, Child abuse, Ableism, Child death, War, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Terminal illness
CN: bad parenting, terrorism, pandemic, illness