Review: The End of the World

 

I really have no idea what to think here. It’s not that any individual component of this book was actively bad; it’s just that there are so many different components going on that it all starts seeming very odd and hard to follow. Half of the book takes place in a futuristic world where one of the main characters, Mica, is being hunted by a cult that has infiltrated the government because they believe they can bring forth their god by sacrificing her. The other half takes place in Animkii’s world, where technology is forbidden and clans cling to survival through a system of rituals and structures that seems like a grab bag of a whole variety of indigenous traditions from around the world. It’s all a bit jarring. 

Also, Animkii is shown as white on the cover, and although her race isn’t specifically discussed that I remember, like I said her world seems to be drawing very heavily from indigenous cultures, which feels a bit appropriation-y.  Come to think of it, I’m not sure there are any characters who are described as non-white, although I don’t remember character descriptions terribly well.

At any rate, I think the sheer quantity of different world-building elements makes it difficult to focus in on some of the core elements of the story. There are plenty of interesting things going on here – the mind-controlled warriors who are going around destroying cities for the Technocrats; the status of religion; Mica’s struggle with addiction; Mica and Animkii’s relationship; the fate of Earthen civilization – I’d love to see more of all of these elements. But they’re all competing with one another, and some of them are more just throwaway plot elements that never really get fully explored. Really needs to be narrowed down a bit.