Some Desperate Glory

navigates complexity in a propulsive and heartwrenching manner. the first half asks important questions that don't have answers, and then the second decides there are in fact earnest and hopeful answers after all. felt a little twee, but i adored these characters and felt so strongly for them, and i read this whole thing in one explosive rush. i may not completely vibe with the resolutions given, but i'm engaged and pensive and grateful over the questions being asked. edit: ok its been 24 hours and i bumped it from 4 stars to 5 stars because i'm still chewing this book over and i think i will be for months

I read these 448 pages in 3 days during nanowrimo. 'nuff said.

This book really stuck with me after reading it. I had to stop reading it before bed because I would stay up too late reading it, which is a trait I cherish in a book and is also hard to pull off in a book with such heavy themes -- brainwashing, abuse, reproductive coercion, war,.... And the characters were so well articulated. I really live for books where characters seem like actual humans who are capable of being really truly horrible to each other and also capable of kindness and growth.