>> May 2020 pick for Read Voraciously Book Club.

content warnings:

Spoiler

epidemic (avian flu), drugging & kidnapping, precanon parent death, off-page parent death, grief, animal testing & deaths (monkeys), classism, major character death

rep:

Spoiler

Taipei setting, Taiwanese MC [Jason Zhou], Desi major characters [Arun & mother], Filipino major character [Victor], Asian WLW major characters [Iris & Lingyi], established minor F/F relationship

★ 2.5 stars ★

Thematically, this book is brilliant. It's a dystopia(ish) that could definitely happen, given the current state of climate change and capitalist greed; Pon has also populated it with diverse characters who straddle the YA/NA boundary. My family is from Taiwan, so I loved the Taipei setting, particularly all the mentions of familiar and beloved street food.

But I just couldn't get behind the characters. I don't like any of them very much, in part because I couldn't seem to get a read [pun intended] on any of their individual personalities or principles. None of them really felt "real" to me, so I wasn't invested in their struggles ... or their relationships.

Also, the plot and pacing just felt off to me? I don't know, I just didn't get a sense of urgency or even progression really, then suddenly it was all over.

Spoiler

Too easily, I might add; I know there's a sequel and not everything was totally fixed, but the ending just felt too idealistic, even with the revelation that the villain is an irredeemable megalomaniac. And I was ready to throw the book across the room when Zhou picked the girl over his alleged found family.

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CONVERSION: 6.55 / 15 = 2.5 stars

Prose: 3 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 2 / 10
Emotional Impact: 2 / 10
Development / Flow: 4 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 2 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5