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2treads's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If you've ever read an Andrea Hairston novel, then you know and understand her style. Her prose won't be fluid or poetic or dense. It will be quick, have a syncopated rhythm to it almost as if at a play. I like that she plays outside the realm of structured prose writing. Her characters are always interesting and ther situations equally so.
Here she is tackling a future where we have been impacted by climate change in a major way. There are co-ops and insulated luxury living for the rich. Corporations have become even more greedy and evil, parsing says to use the vulnerable. Cinnamon has formed herself a community where she fosters imagination and a strong support mantra. There is coding, hoodoo conjuring, and social dynamics all while honoring her ancestors and their rituals and memories.
I loved seeing a mature Cinnamon and what she has carved out for herself in this future.
Here she is tackling a future where we have been impacted by climate change in a major way. There are co-ops and insulated luxury living for the rich. Corporations have become even more greedy and evil, parsing says to use the vulnerable. Cinnamon has formed herself a community where she fosters imagination and a strong support mantra. There is coding, hoodoo conjuring, and social dynamics all while honoring her ancestors and their rituals and memories.
I loved seeing a mature Cinnamon and what she has carved out for herself in this future.
thindbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This is a dystopian fantasy that follows a girl on the run and is threatened by the Darknet Lords. This book was easy to get into but very confusing to understand. The storyline wasn’t bad but it was a bit too chaotic. If the world-building was more introduced in the beginning, it would be a bit easier to understand but I felt things were being thrown into the story throughout the book. I did enjoy the main character, Cinnamon, and how she was badass. I liked her development in the story and seeing her grow throughout the book. The side characters were interesting and made the story enjoyable. Overall not a bad book but it would have been more enjoyable if I understood the world a bit more.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
ilikereadingactually's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? No
4.25
mdelao630's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gondorgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
joghansah's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.0
ana_distracted's review
I'm breaking up with this book and I think it's more that we aren't compatible than that there is any any issue with the book. The narrator is awesome. The concept is interesting. The author is very talented. However, I'm confused and a bit bored. There are a lot of characters, some human, some animal, some robot, and some ghosts. There is a lot of reminiscing and not a lot of action. I'm sure there is an audience of people who will really enjoy listening to this book, but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Thank you to #NetGalley for and advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
laileanah's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.25
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Andrea Hairston, RB Media, and NetGalley.
This is a fun and unique novel, almost like a podcast in a way. This starts off with an ad for the Next World Festival. The Next World Festival is a celebration of life focusing on dance, storytelling, music, etc at this festival attendees both honor the past and dream the future. It's unique and I would LOVE to attend this festival! This is set in a dystopian future of water shortages and resulting wars and deep income and inequality and resource hoarding by the wealthy living in enclaves. This deals with how the world responds to these crisis's and the resulting societal mayhem. So we have joy and despair side by side and what it means to live in such harrowing times. I loved the nod to West African/Black Dysphoric and Native American/First Nations mythology and mythological beings. This is a fun festival set in an Octavia Butler dystopian future. Cinnamon has created a utopia inside of this dystopic hell scape. It reminded me a bit of Parable of the Talents' Acorn. A place where community means no one is left out and everyone respects and honors everyone else. This enclave is threatened and stressed by outside forces like the corporate spies and desperate folks. The novels tone is light allowing the stress of this world to feel manageable and dreamy. It's a heady stuff, almost a cozy dystopia🤔 What a fun and wild mix.
This novel is narrated by January LaVoy. January narrated an audiobook by Shari Lapena that I listened to awhile ago so I was already familiar with her work. Her ability to be light but serious was crucial to narrating a book like this. Cinnamon and her crew of 2 dogs and 3 circus-bots came to life with January's narration. It truly enhanced the listening experience.
Thank you to Andrea Hairston, RB Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This is a fun and unique novel, almost like a podcast in a way. This starts off with an ad for the Next World Festival. The Next World Festival is a celebration of life focusing on dance, storytelling, music, etc at this festival attendees both honor the past and dream the future. It's unique and I would LOVE to attend this festival! This is set in a dystopian future of water shortages and resulting wars and deep income and inequality and resource hoarding by the wealthy living in enclaves. This deals with how the world responds to these crisis's and the resulting societal mayhem. So we have joy and despair side by side and what it means to live in such harrowing times. I loved the nod to West African/Black Dysphoric and Native American/First Nations mythology and mythological beings. This is a fun festival set in an Octavia Butler dystopian future. Cinnamon has created a utopia inside of this dystopic hell scape. It reminded me a bit of Parable of the Talents' Acorn. A place where community means no one is left out and everyone respects and honors everyone else. This enclave is threatened and stressed by outside forces like the corporate spies and desperate folks. The novels tone is light allowing the stress of this world to feel manageable and dreamy. It's a heady stuff, almost a cozy dystopia🤔 What a fun and wild mix.
This novel is narrated by January LaVoy. January narrated an audiobook by Shari Lapena that I listened to awhile ago so I was already familiar with her work. Her ability to be light but serious was crucial to narrating a book like this. Cinnamon and her crew of 2 dogs and 3 circus-bots came to life with January's narration. It truly enhanced the listening experience.
Thank you to Andrea Hairston, RB Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
inkreads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston and narrated by January LaVoy is an absolutely genius concept. Unique, original, dystopic, speculative sci-fi but with a huge heart
A post-flood world, soceities and cultures fractured. Evil Darknet Lords control the internet, the only source of information outside of the farmers, the Motor Fairies and Wheel Wizards who are trying to protect the refugees from evil gangs of Disruptors and Nostalgia Militia, intent on preying on flood survivors before they can reach safety
Our stunning fmc is Cinnamon, her Dogs (love, love love Bruha and Spook) and circus bots, along with her companions Indigo and Game-Boy and so many more incredible faces and back-stories that are an absolute joy (in most cases) to meet.
The book is genius, multi-faceted, forward thinking and so very, very much to explore and indulge in. Mindboggling concepts but so wonderfully put together to draw light from the destruction of a post-eco-apocalyptic nightmare
Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media | Recorded Books the author Andrea HAirston and the narrator January LaVoy for this glorious ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
A post-flood world, soceities and cultures fractured. Evil Darknet Lords control the internet, the only source of information outside of the farmers, the Motor Fairies and Wheel Wizards who are trying to protect the refugees from evil gangs of Disruptors and Nostalgia Militia, intent on preying on flood survivors before they can reach safety
Our stunning fmc is Cinnamon, her Dogs (love, love love Bruha and Spook) and circus bots, along with her companions Indigo and Game-Boy and so many more incredible faces and back-stories that are an absolute joy (in most cases) to meet.
The book is genius, multi-faceted, forward thinking and so very, very much to explore and indulge in. Mindboggling concepts but so wonderfully put together to draw light from the destruction of a post-eco-apocalyptic nightmare
Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media | Recorded Books the author Andrea HAirston and the narrator January LaVoy for this glorious ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
bibliovino's review
adventurous
slow-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? No
4.0
A stunning Afro-future allegory packed with hoodoo and tech that reads like Mad Max in Wonderland.
Chock full of African mythology and a word garden of techno slang and culture-speak, this dense piece of neo folklore takes speculative fiction on an even wilder ride. After a slightly muddled beginning, braving a whole new world and vocabulary, the pace picks up, hurtling you toward a heist-like conclusion. With heart and humor, the novel throws you into the deep end of a life fully lived and lessons yet to be learned.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for my copy. These opinions are my own.
Chock full of African mythology and a word garden of techno slang and culture-speak, this dense piece of neo folklore takes speculative fiction on an even wilder ride. After a slightly muddled beginning, braving a whole new world and vocabulary, the pace picks up, hurtling you toward a heist-like conclusion. With heart and humor, the novel throws you into the deep end of a life fully lived and lessons yet to be learned.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for my copy. These opinions are my own.