Spoilers: This is exactly as rough as it sounds. There's physical violence, torture, sexual assault, genocide, and a host of other related topics. It's not light reading. But it was very good. ( )

This book was powerful, disturbing, and timely. There were often times when I had to take a break after reading and focus on something uplifting, because the content was just so heavy. *There are scenes and language used that could be triggering for some readers, so take heed. The characters were richly developed and were a beautiful representation of LGBTQ, Black, and Brown voices. I loved getting to know everyone, and the allies never came across as the cliched “white saviors”.
I thought the setting in Toronto was a wise choice, because many dystopian novels take place in the US, and Canada is usually the safe haven. This book demonstrated that even Canada has their flaws, and a fascist regime can take place anywhere. There is also important commentary running throughout of the genocide taking place and how other countries react and how that has happened throughout history.
This is the kind of book that holds a mirror up to your face and asks you how you play your part in the fight against injustice. Are you an ally, or will you just stand by? What can you do to help fight against systemic racism? How often do you check your privilege and listen to other voices? ( )