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ziggymusic's review against another edition
5.0
Review of advanced reader copy:
Reading this was like watching a Black Mirror episode - a speculative future that doesn't feel as uncanny or impossible as it probably should. There is more than enough reality in this fiction to make it a frighteningly plausible version of the worst possible outcome. (The 'worst possible outcome' also being a euphemism for our current administration.) It'd be easy to dismiss this story as wild extremist fear-mongering if it didn't reflect so much of the very real and widening divide between the U.S.'s polarized parties.
Anyway, besides being an impressive and well-executed dystopian plot, the writing is great and Sarat will be difficult to forget.
Reading this was like watching a Black Mirror episode - a speculative future that doesn't feel as uncanny or impossible as it probably should. There is more than enough reality in this fiction to make it a frighteningly plausible version of the worst possible outcome. (The 'worst possible outcome' also being a euphemism for our current administration.) It'd be easy to dismiss this story as wild extremist fear-mongering if it didn't reflect so much of the very real and widening divide between the U.S.'s polarized parties.
Anyway, besides being an impressive and well-executed dystopian plot, the writing is great and Sarat will be difficult to forget.
reality_x's review against another edition
1.0
The grand background of this fiction is that America got into a civil war due to drastic climate change. I get that the background is rather an attention-worthy topic but the story just doesn't deliver. The plot is boring and the consistency of the characters is almost none. The protagonist can tolerate 3-day straight in the woods being still and peeing herself in her pants to keep stealthy but can't stand the bedsheet with the smell of others in a shabby hotel. The only motivation that drives me to turn the page is the money I paid for this book.
avidreader63's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Violent in spots. Sad and difficult to read at times.
summerphile's review against another edition
idk maybe im not in the right headspace for this at the moment and maybe ill come back to this when im not full of dread for the future
mangosteem's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
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
voracious_g's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
grahamclements's review against another edition
5.0
Gripping, powerful, a page-turner. A ripper novel that really pulls you into the life of someone whose treatment and that of her family drags her into extracting a horrible revenge. A novel that has you emphasing with those who fight unwinnable wars. There is a lot going on in this novel, climate change has devastated America and a war starts over some southern states refusal to give up fossil fuels, but more so of not wanting the will of the North to be imposed on them. It shows how the United States is not so united now and how this could possibly worsen with self-seeking fools running its government. It shows how US citizens are so disillusioned with their country and its leadership and how that disillusionment could lead to a second civil war.
This novel will probably be in the top ten I have read.
This novel will probably be in the top ten I have read.