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andrew1956's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The story started well with three separate narratives separated by 1000 years but linked by a central character, Leah, and her search for the afterworld. The separate stories started off compelling, and the futuristic "world" was interesting and thoughtful in it's depiction of a world post a climate change driven apocalypse. The choice of Belize and Mayan culture as a basis for the stories was inspired,I thought,given the Mayan's long term view of the world.
I was so disappointed when the stories went off the rails towards the end. Characters developed too fast and became inconsistent, plot changes seemed random and disconnected and the conclusion was a damp squib.
Oh, and Gröningen in Germany doesn't have University. Groningen in The Netherlands does. A simple research error.
I was so disappointed when the stories went off the rails towards the end. Characters developed too fast and became inconsistent, plot changes seemed random and disconnected and the conclusion was a damp squib.
Oh, and Gröningen in Germany doesn't have University. Groningen in The Netherlands does. A simple research error.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Sexual content
honey__bean's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I'm definitely going to have to reread this one. There are interesting discussions on government structures, philosophy, and religion in this one. It is has a very cool and complex religion system that is used well when it comes up.
This book is broken up into three time periods: a few months in 1012 during Mayan rule, December 2012 in Minnesota/Belize, and a few months in 3012. The writing lacked I think in the 2012 part, and there was very unnecessary incest in the 1012 part, but the 3012 part is what really kept me hooked. If it was simply set during that time for the whole book with little cut ins from the past for context, then I would be all about it.
This book is broken up into three time periods: a few months in 1012 during Mayan rule, December 2012 in Minnesota/Belize, and a few months in 3012. The writing lacked I think in the 2012 part, and there was very unnecessary incest in the 1012 part, but the 3012 part is what really kept me hooked. If it was simply set during that time for the whole book with little cut ins from the past for context, then I would be all about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Self harm, and Blood
hpylori's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I really liked the idea of this book and wanted to like it, however, the book failed to live up to my expectations. The book meandered about in different timelines with ill defined and differentiated characters. I felt confused a lot. The future didn’t feel coherent. Early on it was obvious where the story was going and the ending wasn’t satisfying. I found some of the topics discussed by the author a bit on the nose and inauthentic. It felt like the author took a trip to ATM as a tourist and wanted to write a book about it… But she makes an erudite local character to talk about tourist gaze so it’s ok?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
blrobin2's review against another edition
When I'm 33% into the book and it's still building its world, I find it hard to stay invested. I'm vaguely aware of a dozen characters, but I still don't know what this book is about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Murder
kirayna's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Stopped around 20%, dnf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Self harm, and Sexual content
bucketsjen's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
The events of the novel take place across three periods in time, separated by thousands of years... but the events and the people are more connected than that would make it seem.
This book is cerebral and spiritual. A strong aspect of the storytelling is not only the events themselves, but the archetypes and souls of the characters. I loved it, but it definitely makes you think (and feel).
Ultimately, I think it's wonderful to imaginethat you're never going to be as alone as you feel .
This book is cerebral and spiritual. A strong aspect of the storytelling is not only the events themselves, but the archetypes and souls of the characters. I loved it, but it definitely makes you think (and feel).
Ultimately, I think it's wonderful to imagine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
contains multiple instances of self-harm (cutting) for spiritual purposesmattchristensen's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
cdc95's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
bluemonkey14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this but in the end it left me a bit cold. It felt like the first two acts were building towards something huge and revelatory, but the ending felt like it petered out without really tying up most of the loose ends.
Some of the sexual content felt corny to me, especially contrasted with the grand arcs of the overall storyline and took away from the overall experience. I think it would have been better to gloss over it a little more and let the reader fill in the gaps with their imagination.
Contrary to other reviews I don't think Laviaja is supposed to be taken as some sort of perfect utopia, but just another version of civilisation with pros and cons, similar to how modern society is very different from the Mayan society, but in no way perfect. As we know, anything presented as a utopia is usually nothing of the sort, and I think that holds true here. Byrne cites Black Mirror as one of her influences and I think the 3012 portion of the book should be taken in that same vein - a possible future.
The Laviaja sections were my favourite, and I would personally love to see more development of it, both before and after the events of The Actual Star. We know some history of the Age of Emergency - aspects like nomadism, mutual aid and the push back against hoarding of resources all make sense in that context. But naturally given the format, there is a huge gap between what we know of today, and where Laviaja is in 3012. And of course there's scope to see how things play out, especially given Niloux's theory about the location of further cortadas.
Some of the sexual content felt corny to me, especially contrasted with the grand arcs of the overall storyline and took away from the overall experience. I think it would have been better to gloss over it a little more and let the reader fill in the gaps with their imagination.
Contrary to other reviews I don't think Laviaja is supposed to be taken as some sort of perfect utopia, but just another version of civilisation with pros and cons, similar to how modern society is very different from the Mayan society, but in no way perfect. As we know, anything presented as a utopia is usually nothing of the sort, and I think that holds true here. Byrne cites Black Mirror as one of her influences and I think the 3012 portion of the book should be taken in that same vein - a possible future.
The Laviaja sections were my favourite, and I would personally love to see more development of it, both before and after the events of The Actual Star. We know some history of the Age of Emergency - aspects like nomadism, mutual aid and the push back against hoarding of resources all make sense in that context. But naturally given the format, there is a huge gap between what we know of today, and where Laviaja is in 3012. And of course there's scope to see how things play out, especially given Niloux's theory about the location of further cortadas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Cancer, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Vomit
jordynkw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Incest, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail