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sarah984's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Torture, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation
letsgoevie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, and Torture
laurareads87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Colonisation
a_kt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I think the only reason I wouldn't give it the full 5 stars is that there were portions of the book that were just a little too languid for my tastes, most notably the ending. Although I can see what the author was going for- trying to steadily ramp up the tension and build to a moment where you weren't sure what would happen- but unfortunately the build up was a bit drawn out which caused the conclusion to just not hit as hard and it should have.
Aside from that minor criticism, I'm so so glad I read this book and I can't wait to add Jimenez's other works to the TBR pile.
Graphic: Torture, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship
quinnjuliac'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
vsnuffles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was an excellent and incredibly depressing read. I recommend reading it with caution due to just how very sad it is - it's definitely worth it but you'll want to be ready for some self-care afterwards. Do not expect a happy ending unless you like being very sad.
More in-depth:
The world-building is excellent: it's such a well thought-out future setting and the details of it are so elegantly incorporated it never feels like too much or too little. The writing was so good it was almost poetic at times, it was quite beautiful and poignant. The characters are grey and interesting. You get to see how they impact each other and the book has an excellent way of zooming out through the first few chapters, expanding the world before it settles on a more continuous story. It is a very bleak story and world, quite dystopian in a way that would feel cyberpunk if it were more focused on the digital world. Some mild spoilers for the tone of the ending/story overall:
If I had to say the story has a theme woven throughout I would have to say it is about cruelty and exploitation of humans through colonialization and capitalism. There is plenty more going on in the very well written characters, how they are shaped by their traumas in good and bad ways and being able to see how they grow based on how they react to their circumstances.
Moderate: Physical abuse and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
planetesastraea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
From the very first pages, The Vanished Birds has been haunting.
The book kicks off painting a world in which time goes more slowly for a group of mysterious technologically-advanced off-worlders. This perspective gives the tone for the whole novel: how small human lives can be, how fragile and fickle, a blink in the span of human history, and a speck of dust in the universe.
As I read this book, anxiety followed me with each chapter.
Even during the most light-hearted parts of the crew's every day life, the weight of the deranging unknown that has carved its shape into their lives can't be shaken off. Something inescapable looms in the dark- something that they know to be wonderful but bound to be the key to their demise.
And this incredible build-up only works because of its even somber unfolding.
Jimenez's writing speaks to his knowledge of what it is to be human, for better and for worst.
The length of humanity's cruelty only finds an equal in the endless hope and love that comes with finding a family, and fighting to keep it.
If I usually turn to more light-hearted reading I can't say I regret having read The Vanished Birds. It's a powerful read that has stayed with me ever since.
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
johannab's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Colonisation
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual content
bookishcori's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Torture
Moderate: Death