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simonlorden's Reviews (1.38k)
"Give me a couple of months," I said. "I'll get back to you."
This actually did help understand The Freeze-Frame Revolution a little more (it's a direct prequel with the same main character). I still love Sunday, although I didn't always understand her logic.
tw for a suicide attempt and self-harm/cutting
This actually did help understand The Freeze-Frame Revolution a little more (it's a direct prequel with the same main character). I still love Sunday, although I didn't always understand her logic.
tw for a suicide attempt and self-harm/cutting
men and gods are both horrible. but I suppose the blame for that is on Greek myths and the world, not Madeline Miller.
I didn't see that ending coming, but I liked it a lot.
I didn't see that ending coming, but I liked it a lot.
I couldn't make it through this book unfortunately, so I'm not rating it.
For some reason I was convinced this book had werewolves, but I was wrong. Anyway.
Let's start with the positives. I liked the three boys navigating their polyamorous relationship, recognising how they all care about each other, and I liked that they all had good relationships with their supportive parents - that is rare in YA. I also loved the wolves.
But I was really, really not impressed with how the ace representation was handled. There was internalised acephobia that isn't really challenged, some aromisic language, Finn basically outing Adrian, and just... a lot of mixing up of platonic, romantic and sexual relationships.
More specifically:
- In the first third of the book, it is set up that Adrian has a secret. He refers to himself as a freak, and says he's worried he might never find somebody to love him. Right before they're about to tell Finn the secret, Ivan says he "hopes [Finn] doesn't come to the same realisation Adrian did, because that would seriously give [Ivan] a complex", to which Adrian replies that "it's not your fault. I'd blame my parents' genes", and that it "wouldn't be fair" for him to date Ivan when Ivan wants a sexual relationship. Basically, asexuality is set up as something unwanted even before the word is ever used.
- Adrian clearly wants a romantic relationship, although not a sexual one. Yet, later when Finn talks about their relationship to his parents, he describes it as Adrian "not being interested in much beyond being very close friends". A non-sexual romantic relationship is NOT the same as being very close friends!!
- Next, Finn describes his own desire to have a romantic/sexual relationship with Ivan as wanting to be "more than just close friends", which is aromisic language.
- Also, Finn basically outs Adrian as ace to his [Finn's] own parents and sister when talking about their relationship. I'm not even sure Adrian is out to his [Adrian's] own parents about being ace?! And he definitely didn't agree to Finn's family knowing, especially given that at this pointFinn's sister is dating Adrian's bully .
Overall, the polyamory part was really sweet and I liked Finn asking Adrian what kind of physical intimacy he is or isn't interested in, but I wasn't impressed with the ace rep otherwise.
Let's start with the positives. I liked the three boys navigating their polyamorous relationship, recognising how they all care about each other, and I liked that they all had good relationships with their supportive parents - that is rare in YA. I also loved the wolves.
But I was really, really not impressed with how the ace representation was handled. There was internalised acephobia that isn't really challenged, some aromisic language, Finn basically outing Adrian, and just... a lot of mixing up of platonic, romantic and sexual relationships.
More specifically:
- In the first third of the book, it is set up that Adrian has a secret. He refers to himself as a freak, and says he's worried he might never find somebody to love him. Right before they're about to tell Finn the secret, Ivan says he "hopes [Finn] doesn't come to the same realisation Adrian did, because that would seriously give [Ivan] a complex", to which Adrian replies that "it's not your fault. I'd blame my parents' genes", and that it "wouldn't be fair" for him to date Ivan when Ivan wants a sexual relationship. Basically, asexuality is set up as something unwanted even before the word is ever used.
- Adrian clearly wants a romantic relationship, although not a sexual one. Yet, later when Finn talks about their relationship to his parents, he describes it as Adrian "not being interested in much beyond being very close friends". A non-sexual romantic relationship is NOT the same as being very close friends!!
- Next, Finn describes his own desire to have a romantic/sexual relationship with Ivan as wanting to be "more than just close friends", which is aromisic language.
- Also, Finn basically outs Adrian as ace to his [Finn's] own parents and sister when talking about their relationship. I'm not even sure Adrian is out to his [Adrian's] own parents about being ace?! And he definitely didn't agree to Finn's family knowing, especially given that at this point
Overall, the polyamory part was really sweet and I liked Finn asking Adrian what kind of physical intimacy he is or isn't interested in, but I wasn't impressed with the ace rep otherwise.
the real horror story in this book is that the writer apparently teaches creative writing.
anyway. one of the killers is obvious from chapter 1, the other one is unnecessarily edgy for ~~~shock value~~~, they are both "crazy" of course bc fuck mentally ill people, everyone in this book hates each other even before the killing starts so why did they even agree to going on a 3-day trip together?! all the characters are two-dimensional and also just shitty people in general.
basically I hated this from the beginning, but it's under 150 pages and I was morbidly interested in who the killer is, so I finished anyway. I will never get this time of my life back
anyway. one of the killers is obvious from chapter 1, the other one is unnecessarily edgy for ~~~shock value~~~, they are both "crazy" of course bc fuck mentally ill people, everyone in this book hates each other even before the killing starts so why did they even agree to going on a 3-day trip together?! all the characters are two-dimensional and also just shitty people in general.
basically I hated this from the beginning, but it's under 150 pages and I was morbidly interested in who the killer is, so I finished anyway. I will never get this time of my life back
I was gonna talk about how every police officer in this book is incompetent and it's my pet peeve when people have very similar names (Madge-Madison, Allison-Angie, and then Alyssa, Allan, Arnold and Abe as side characters), but the ending twist was so bad that I just... 1.5 stars? I guess? or something?
I loved the romance in this, and I especially loved the three gay men who were friends and supported each other so strongly. I just. amazing friendships.
the mystery was okay.
the mystery was okay.
I finally finished this book I literally started last decade, congratulate me
this wasn't bad, but it was... weird. yeah, I'm gonna go with weird.