A review by kael_lockwood
Die by Kieron Gillen

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Die is a reflection on fantasy, play, and growing up. It's about decent people forced back into the fantasy world they made as shitty teenagers. It's a messed up place where messed up things happen, and where there can be no clean cut happy ending. It's beautiful. It's emotional. It's really good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death

Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

It is hard to give an accurate content warning without spoiling.

Transphobia

and an

adult/teen relationship

both play a large thematic role in some of the character arcs, but it is not graphic and focuses on the interpersonal effects years later. The story is graphically engaged with themes of consent and coercion non-sexually. There is an explicit allegory for depression and grief present at most points in the story. The book works with uncomfortable themes in a way that felt thought out, accessible to those most affected, and overall empowering.