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brekaboujie'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? No
5.0
The blurb and reviews on the book are a bit misleading - I'd never describe this as anything like a spy novel, but I guess it's true you should never trust Neil Gaiman.
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture and Suicide attempt
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
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
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
emmiej'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
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail
schnaucl'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
4.5
The idea of something that manifests your nostalgia is an intriguing one, as is the idea of someone who immediately knows if something is true. I can certainly see why intelligence agencies would want to control a person with such an ability. Frankly, I'm surprised they'd ever let him in the field given what a valuable resource he would be.
I feel a little ambivalent about the ending. I suppose given the government connections, they could officially undo Rao's death, although explaining it to his family would be more of a challenge. I also wonder if Rao being a recreation, even a perfect one, will start to cause problems down the line. I would think it would be difficult to not have imposter syndrome.
I think this is a standalone book but I'd definitely read more if they wanted to make it a series.
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and War