A review by julis
The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 This was billed as “Joan of Arc but she’s lying and it’s sci-fi”, and I think I would’ve had a better time without that.

I also think the author is writing beyond their skill level, it’s trying to be complex and ambiguous and mostly just comes off as annoying and smug.

Plot is intriguing, some (but not all) characters are complex, varied mental states are shown in ways that sf/f doesn’t always try to…but it never quite lives up to its ideas.