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katiewhocanread'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? Yes
4.75
Is it sci-fi? Horror? Fantasy? Thriller? A bit of all of the above, I'd say. Reminded me of the programme Fringe, which I enjoyed several years back.
I fear I'm going to have a major book hangover after this.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
scurvotron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug use, Torture, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and War
mar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, and Torture
jaedia'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Drug use, Racism, Torture, and War
lilyoliviareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So I felt like the concept of this book was really good and on a surface level I liked the characters but it all just felt a bit... flat. In all honesty I think the authors had bitten off more than they could chew.
The characters were interesting and had really good set up initially but I didn't really feel like they developed much at all throughout the book.
As I said above the plot also just felt a bit flat. It was quite convoluted and started off great, but as soon as they went over to the US, it seemed to fall away. Idk I just wanted more. More depth, clearer writing, more explanation.
Overall this was an enjoyable book that I got through pretty quickly but I wouldn't rush to recommend.
Also - I would recommend looking up a list of trigger warnings because it leant way more into dark military themes than I was expecting.
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ktjames1908's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The story also felt rushed at times, particularly at the beginning, which made it very hard to grasp what was actually happening and follow along. I think the idea behind the main plot is complex enough that it needs a lot more exploration.
The two main characters were lovable, as was their dynamic. I think that the time given to exploring the depths of their personalities was enough for them to feel like fully developed characters, but I still think that there should have been more; they both have such interesting backgrounds that it seemed a pity to not spend more time on them. Their relationship and it's development definitely needed something more, too - when we meet them, they already have an established dynamic, and it remains somewhat stagnant until near the end of the book.
All in all, it was an okay read - definitely fun, but tempered by frustration.
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
alienguy'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Blood, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, and War
atamano'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Racism, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
paolo_2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
dreareads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a fun scifi buddy cop(soldiers?) story about nostalgia and governmental propaganda. I think it is a book that is trying to do a lot, but at times forgets the logic of its own world building. I appreciated the anticapitalist, US military propaganda motifs, but they often times felt vague and repetitive. Towards the end of the book I was left with more questions than answer, and not in the fun interpretation kind of way, but in the "I don't think the story understand its own rules" kind of way.
Fortunately, the book centers around two main characters that you cannot help but fall in love with. I am obsessed with Rao and his unapologetic queerness and large personality. A personality that is deepened by his own personal trauma and insecurities. Pair him with a character like Adam, whom in the surface may seem serious and unfeeling but on the inside is warm and precious, and you simply have the perfect recipe for a captivating relationship. Even if the ending did not fully work for me, I was just happy to be with them.
For a 500+ pages book it was fun and fast paced enough that you do not feel fully bogged down by the lack of world building. But if you stop and think about it too much you will discover holes that not even prophet could fill.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and War