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howlinglibraries 's review for:
Ration
by Cody T Luff
As someone who's been reading horror and dystopian fiction for a long time, I think I'm pretty hard to surprise, but I have to say that Ration takes things to a level that even I didn't always expect. If you're looking for a sci-fi-heavy dystopian tale, pass on this, but if you're looking for some end-of-world bleakness and absolute tragedy, this is the story for you.
While a lot of what happens is left to your interpretation, as Luff's writing tends to be vague and metaphorical, it's still clear enough to paint a rather haunting visual of the future. I think I'm pretty hard to disgust and unsettle, so I can't say I felt like I was in danger of losing my supper or anything like that (though I believe many readers will be), but what was most frightening to me was the absolute lack of humanity in the characters of Ration. Nobody in this book is enjoyable at the end of the day, because this is a world and society so saturated in selfishness and cruelty that nobody can afford to be likable.
Ration has a lot going for it, and most of all, is an incredibly unique tale that offered up a storyline that felt brand new to me. Unfortunately, despite how much I loved the idea of this story, it wasn't a success for me. I found the pacing odd, and due to being so unable to enjoy any of the characters, it was impossible for me to find anyone to root for (which is a personal problem of mine with books, and might not bother other readers in the slightest!). Most of all, Luff's writing style — while unique, intriguing, and clearly talented — never quite meshed with me. This is entirely an "it's not you, it's me" scenario, and because of that, I still highly recommend Ration to anyone who enjoys genuinely dark, morbid dystopian tales. As it does border on the horror side of things, I'd also recommend this to any fans of post-apocalyptic or dystopian horror.
Content warnings for murder, gratuitous violence, physical abuse, verbal abuse, and cannibalism.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
While a lot of what happens is left to your interpretation, as Luff's writing tends to be vague and metaphorical, it's still clear enough to paint a rather haunting visual of the future. I think I'm pretty hard to disgust and unsettle, so I can't say I felt like I was in danger of losing my supper or anything like that (though I believe many readers will be), but what was most frightening to me was the absolute lack of humanity in the characters of Ration. Nobody in this book is enjoyable at the end of the day, because this is a world and society so saturated in selfishness and cruelty that nobody can afford to be likable.
Ration has a lot going for it, and most of all, is an incredibly unique tale that offered up a storyline that felt brand new to me. Unfortunately, despite how much I loved the idea of this story, it wasn't a success for me. I found the pacing odd, and due to being so unable to enjoy any of the characters, it was impossible for me to find anyone to root for (which is a personal problem of mine with books, and might not bother other readers in the slightest!). Most of all, Luff's writing style — while unique, intriguing, and clearly talented — never quite meshed with me. This is entirely an "it's not you, it's me" scenario, and because of that, I still highly recommend Ration to anyone who enjoys genuinely dark, morbid dystopian tales. As it does border on the horror side of things, I'd also recommend this to any fans of post-apocalyptic or dystopian horror.
Content warnings for murder, gratuitous violence, physical abuse, verbal abuse, and cannibalism.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!