Reviews

Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

laurren's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

rubius_pepperwood's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

gelliestar's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

the_sunken_library's review against another edition

3.0

3.5. Really.

Super strong concept - unique and terrifying. Bit of a flat ending though.

I could imagine this reality. A world where you can buy pet robots - Kentukis. But, instead of an AI personality occupying them, its another human being, anonymous, hidden behind multiple proxies, located anywhere in the world.

A world of keepers - those who purchase Kentukis as companions - and dwellers - those who occupy them. Neither keeper nor dweller can choose which kentuki they link to or wake up in. The only way to end a connection is for the dweller to terminate it or for the keeper/dweller to destroy the Kentuki - through violence or denying it battery life.

The narrative weaves amongst keepers and dwellers - with some reccurring characters and some fleeting glimpses of lives. Regardless of this, and whether the character is a keeper or dweller, one thing seems certain - these relationships are doomed thanks to the flaws in human nature which is exposed and amplified by delusions of anonymity and the blurring of morality when considering kentukis to just be "things or pets" or acknowledging the human being that dwells within.

I was happy with the conclusions of all the stories except the last one. I felt the author was reaching a moment of enlightenment about human nature but then cut off early, abandoning the moment to oblivion. Such a shame.

dgerundio's review against another edition

dark tense

3.75

willow1113's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

jelena1707007's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.25

mileidi24's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

Interesting themes. The overall developments were a bit uncomfortable and unsettling which can be a good thing if it’s what you’re looking for. It was a bit difficult to distinguish between characters. I’m not sure if that was due to the translation process or if the author struggled with giving each character its own voice. 

mariekev's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.5

nyxie_'s review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75