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mjdun1212's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
fromplanetrey's review against another edition
4.5
What an amazing time. So queer, so intense, and pretty wild overall.
This is a story about an all-Black matriarchal society that lives within the bodies of giant space creatures, and you see the rollercoaster of a ride the main characters go on to better things for their people and for the beasts they're inside of. Coming off of just having read Dawn by Octavia Butler, which is also about a Black woman who is inside a living ship, this was great timing and honestly was such a fascinating read.
The more things you learn about the rules of this society, the impact of their existence within these creatures, and the worlds beyond, the quicker you'll be flipping to the next page to see what the hecks going to happen. Learning more about other humans, about the creatures, about what the main characters are willing to sacrifice, all was so great.
Its gory at times, (literally inside a body, and there are also a few cultural skin carving scenes, etc), and steeped in the politics of their society, I loved seeing the characters navigate the story. The norms of the society, queer and exciting in so many ways yet still harmful in its extremes. There were a few smaller plot points that felt unfinished or forgotten at times, especially by the end, but I was so into it overall that it didn't take much away from the experience for me.
This is a story about an all-Black matriarchal society that lives within the bodies of giant space creatures, and you see the rollercoaster of a ride the main characters go on to better things for their people and for the beasts they're inside of. Coming off of just having read Dawn by Octavia Butler, which is also about a Black woman who is inside a living ship, this was great timing and honestly was such a fascinating read.
The more things you learn about the rules of this society, the impact of their existence within these creatures, and the worlds beyond, the quicker you'll be flipping to the next page to see what the hecks going to happen. Learning more about other humans, about the creatures, about what the main characters are willing to sacrifice, all was so great.
Its gory at times, (literally inside a body, and there are also a few cultural skin carving scenes, etc), and steeped in the politics of their society, I loved seeing the characters navigate the story. The norms of the society, queer and exciting in so many ways yet still harmful in its extremes. There were a few smaller plot points that felt unfinished or forgotten at times, especially by the end, but I was so into it overall that it didn't take much away from the experience for me.
lafia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Wild ride! Took a bit to understand what was going on, but once you got the hang of where and what they are doing, the story then smashes you through several brick walls. It is highly emotional, and you will feel all emotions for most characters. Kind of queer west side story meets space faring society with an ancient caste system, that really boils the blood under your skin. Highly recommend!
alexandra_92's review against another edition
4.0
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
A unique matriarchal society set in space and filled with sci-fi goodness and a tiny bit of horror concerning the idea of bodies. I liked the ideas behind the story and how the characters tried to race against time as the Sister wants to get power in her own hands. The lost star goes to the slightly YA feeling of the book. If it had more pages and it was set in the Adult spectrum of readers then it would be even more spectacular.
A unique matriarchal society set in space and filled with sci-fi goodness and a tiny bit of horror concerning the idea of bodies. I liked the ideas behind the story and how the characters tried to race against time as the Sister wants to get power in her own hands. The lost star goes to the slightly YA feeling of the book. If it had more pages and it was set in the Adult spectrum of readers then it would be even more spectacular.
ker0wyn's review against another edition
1.0
I loved a lot of the weirdness and originality and delightfully disgusting body horror. It has fabulous world building! The story, which centers on a unique matriarchal society living inside a giant space beast, is quite unlike anything I've read before - there's so much shit and puke and oozing viscera all over the place.
The final third, though, has to be one of the most hair pullingly frustrating things I've read in a long time. It just took such a huge and shockingly swift downturn in quality. Suddenly plot threads were left dangling all over the place, emotional development stalled, and character consistency went out the window (one example is)
Overall I mostly think that the story was too ambitious for the space it had, with too many different competing ideas and none of them properly developed (one example of many is). It really needed at least another 100-200 pages to flesh out the latter part of the story, or alternately, it could have worked well as a solid novella if the focus had been narrowed slightly. Either would have been better than this messy, disjointed ending.
I was also disappointing in the way nothing ever seems to stick; the story consistently insulates the reader from any intense emotions (of which there should be many given the events) and the general brutality of it all. But I wanted to feel all of that. Give me MORE BRUTALITY. I wish she'd pushed it to the max, or that it was categorized as YA so that at least I'd gone in with different expectations.
Anywho. Yeah. I went to bed frustrated and had bad dreams, so I'm just going to stop now before I get even more ranty :/
The final third, though, has to be one of the most hair pullingly frustrating things I've read in a long time. It just took such a huge and shockingly swift downturn in quality. Suddenly plot threads were left dangling all over the place, emotional development stalled, and character consistency went out the window (one example is
Spoiler
the entire plotline with Seske's sister, including the whole conspiracy and complete lack of consequences, the odd way that Seske reacts, the fact that Seske in any way trusts her in the conclusion, the way the sister just...disappears and is never referred to again??Overall I mostly think that the story was too ambitious for the space it had, with too many different competing ideas and none of them properly developed (one example of many is
Spoiler
the "rebellion" that comes out of nowhere and ends almost immediatelyI was also disappointing in the way nothing ever seems to stick; the story consistently insulates the reader from any intense emotions (of which there should be many given the events) and the general brutality of it all. But I wanted to feel all of that. Give me MORE BRUTALITY. I wish she'd pushed it to the max, or that it was categorized as YA so that at least I'd gone in with different expectations.
Anywho. Yeah. I went to bed frustrated and had bad dreams, so I'm just going to stop now before I get even more ranty :/
mssunnyskies's review against another edition
Not in the head space for child labor and death and class inequality
northbailey's review against another edition
2.0
As good as the "world-building" is, the story itself felt stilted and the ending was especially unsatisfying. 2.5 stars
ssinforshort's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I re-read this so I will have the details fresh in my mind for the sequel.
Though I could do without some of the third act deaths. I love the world building. People inhabiting beasts in space is such a unique idea.
I enjoyed this voyage, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Sure as sure as sure.
Though I could do without some of the third act deaths. I love the world building. People inhabiting beasts in space is such a unique idea.
I enjoyed this voyage, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Sure as sure as sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death and Violence
Minor: Death
vaguereference's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. We round up in this house. I’m confused about what happened to sister-kin. But I am also willing to admit that I fall asleep during audiobooks sometimes. I don’t think I did during this book because I was enraptured. But I honestly don’t remember what happened. It would’ve earned a full 5 if I wasn’t so hung up on my own confusion.