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A review by shereadytoread
This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I completed a tandem read (listening to the audio while reading the physical book) so I'm going to split up my thoughts on the book in general and the audiobook.
This book deals with themes of environmental conservation, capitalism, heteronormativity and reproduction centering on a forced polycule on a distant colony planet. Our main characters are two queer women (she/her pronouns but concepts of gender are rather fluid and discussed) along with another character who is discussed in a way that indicates he is asexual, but not explicitly stated to be so.
This book is rather unique in premise. It is a dark story of a toxic relationship that is taking place against a ecohorror backdrop on a colonized planet. The horror is ever looming and evolving but it is not the point (in my opinion) of the story. We follow a relationship first broken by circumstance and then broken by toxic cycles that have developed since. The characters are not very likeable but their flaws are what make the tale possible. They first make hard choices out of obligation, and then harder choices out of obsession.
The horror elements dominate the last third of the novella, but the tense and uncomfortable relationship falling apart throughout the story was just as striking for me.
Audiobook: The audiobook was well done and I think the narrator did a pretty good job differentiating the main characters from one another but not as much was given to differentiating side characters. I don't think the audiobook really adds anything that I would recommend it over the print, but I think you could have generally the same experience with either.
Disclosure: I received an ALC from Netgalley and a finished print copy from the publisher.
This book deals with themes of environmental conservation, capitalism, heteronormativity and reproduction centering on a forced polycule on a distant colony planet. Our main characters are two queer women (she/her pronouns but concepts of gender are rather fluid and discussed) along with another character who is discussed in a way that indicates he is asexual, but not explicitly stated to be so.
This book is rather unique in premise. It is a dark story of a toxic relationship that is taking place against a ecohorror backdrop on a colonized planet. The horror is ever looming and evolving but it is not the point (in my opinion) of the story. We follow a relationship first broken by circumstance and then broken by toxic cycles that have developed since. The characters are not very likeable but their flaws are what make the tale possible. They first make hard choices out of obligation, and then harder choices out of obsession.
The horror elements dominate the last third of the novella, but the tense and uncomfortable relationship falling apart throughout the story was just as striking for me.
Audiobook: The audiobook was well done and I think the narrator did a pretty good job differentiating the main characters from one another but not as much was given to differentiating side characters. I don't think the audiobook really adds anything that I would recommend it over the print, but I think you could have generally the same experience with either.
Disclosure: I received an ALC from Netgalley and a finished print copy from the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Animal death