This book is great at elucidating Korean-Japanese cultural dynamics and history, and that purposeful approach feels like it takes precedence over other aspects of some characters. I think it feels like this because around 40%-ish of the book doesn’t really do this and the later half, certainly the last quarter—with the later generation of the family—is very overt. So the contrast becomes somewhat glaring.

I think that it’s a pretty great feat to pack so much content in an epic with such a short page count. This could easily have spun out into a huge book, and so the restraint, methodology and precision which makes some of the characters sometimes feel like they are there to bring forward cultural aspects, also is a strength. It’s a decision that will probably polarize people who read epics a lot. I, for one, admire the execution of the authors intent. The prose suit this perfectly.

I found this to be very well written with a strong authorial voice. It’s the kind of thing that can propel just about any story. Because I am not very invested in this story, not being religious I think I don’t really understand how it interconnects with other texts. It may do so deftly or clumsily and I would have no idea.

I liked the feminist cantering of this historical fiction quite a bit. The plot is not exactly gripping, in fact I found it vacillated quite often between the interesting aspects to things I found more tedious. I think this story may have more punch if you have some investment in the concept and character of Jesus, the person.

For me, the primary pleasure came from the strength of the writing, as mentioned. Perhaps you’ll find the same if you also do not care one way or the other about this texts relationship to the historical.

Loved this. Fantastic narration from Keaton and it’s just fascinating subject matter. Subjects written about as old as early 60s, to 20 + later. Proves she can write about just about anything I’d be game.

Establishes reasons for a few things that are weird about Kingsglaive, such as where the hell is Cor during the coup, for one. Reads like a script, deleted scenes from the movie or flashbacks or something - with kind of shitty formatting. Worth the 10 minutes but even still some of the scenes could have been cut further down even. Surprised they didn’t just slip in some of this dialogue in the movie and do away with this whole thing, kind of.

2.5 rounded up. Weaker than the previous two and when the Mormon influence reeeally takes hold. I find it interesting to draw parallels between religion and YA fantasy/ feminine power fantasy and this is like the ultimate embodiment of that.

Even though I found Edwards and Jacob’s various actions believable, in a shitty teenager kind-of-way, it’s still pretty cringe sometimes. It’s certainly A power fantasy, and Edward being stuck in the 1800s forever vs shitty teenagers of the present is also A thing... the overall narrative is far less interesting (to me) because of it. Granted, I’m a guy. But it did feel like a less consumable commercial fiction structure to me because of it.

While tracing the conception and birth of a child, the author expresses a lot of different thoughts, typically on the intersection of queer culture, sex, patriarchy, and feminist issues.

It is unabashedly expressive and earnest, with subjects being brought up and returned to throughout and are thematic with the overall journey. It struck me that it simulates a prevalent stereotype of pregnant women, where their minds are scatterbrained. Only the random thoughts are much more cohesive and, often, quite profound, even as they feel rapid fire and random in the moment.

I think that if you liked twilight, you’d probably like this. All the times Edward is alien or strange is explained pretty well. But there’s also nothing really new. The vampire fam isn’t expounded on that much, which feels like a lost opportunity. Structurally and prose wise, it’s certainly more complex than the OG, but also obviously conforms to the first book plot beats and is commercial fiction through and through. If you were wondering why tf Edward is so obtuse, this is for you. Otherwise I don’t know that there’s a reason to pick this up? Which is a fine reason for another book and it’s perfectly upfront about what it is on the jacket.