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sharu901's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Xenophobia
noodlebooknook's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
5 stars in general vibes
4 stars in some execution
4.5 stars to call it even
Let’s start with the good:
- the concept is very very good, I mean death games at this point I thought couldn’t be re-invented but this felt familiar yet fresh
- the main characters were so loved I almost cried multiple times it was so real and raw
- the author was very good at embodying all of the different POVS each one felt very separate and original
Some small criticisms:
- the POVs shifting without explicit chapter names for each character can be a little jarring sometimes I wasn’t sure if we were in the story of someone in the games or someone in the outside world
- some of the POV chapters were a little boring, like some chapters would have a rich back story while others I found myself not as invested in
- the changing sometimes between current and past events were not super clear and sometimes made a little confusion in the narrative, chapters as dates or names I think would have cleared me up
Overall I think this book is an amazing read and says so so so much about current prison systems and neo-slavery while in a fiction setting a lot of this book is very very real.
4 stars in some execution
4.5 stars to call it even
Let’s start with the good:
- the concept is very very good, I mean death games at this point I thought couldn’t be re-invented but this felt familiar yet fresh
- the main characters were so loved I almost cried multiple times it was so real and raw
- the author was very good at embodying all of the different POVS each one felt very separate and original
Some small criticisms:
- the POVs shifting without explicit chapter names for each character can be a little jarring sometimes I wasn’t sure if we were in the story of someone in the games or someone in the outside world
- some of the POV chapters were a little boring, like some chapters would have a rich back story while others I found myself not as invested in
- the changing sometimes between current and past events were not super clear and sometimes made a little confusion in the narrative, chapters as dates or names I think would have cleared me up
Overall I think this book is an amazing read and says so so so much about current prison systems and neo-slavery while in a fiction setting a lot of this book is very very real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Ableism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Death
musebeliever's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Chain Gang All-Stars manages to denounce the US incarceration system through a moving and disturbing story. In this future and alternative America, detained prisoners can choose to participate in broadcasted gladiator duels where they will fight to the death. The book draws parallels with the USA's current system where the bias of the carceral often makes incarceration inevitable for Black people. It explored the enslavement of prisoners, the inadequacy of the justice system, and the exploitation of imprisoned people, their torture, and dehumanisation. The parellels are drawn masterfully, using recent and historic cases. It is quite chilling to realise that the dystopia depicted in the book is very close to reality.
The writing is powerful and often poetic. It conveys the personality of each POV. I was very impressed to see the author adapt their style to each character.
I recommend this book!
The writing is powerful and often poetic. It conveys the personality of each POV. I was very impressed to see the author adapt their style to each character.
I recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Self harm, Torture, Murder, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape
biobeetle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Confinement, Suicide, Blood, Torture, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Gore, Cursing, Slavery, Hate crime, and Grief
Minor: Cancer
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