3.5 stars rounded up.
I enjoyed Vera's character -- her position as human-like, but fundamentally different physically, mentally, and emotionally was compelling. She, of course, had the struggle of wanting to be more human while also having a certain disdain for humanity that comes from seeing it from the outside. But more interesting was her desire to be part of a community and culture that she feels inherently connected to, but is cut off from because her existence is profane to them and because they have been decimated by the genocide and war that inspired her creation. She had no chance. The story captures that loss of what should have been well. The more fantastical parts of her identity struggles were compelling as well -- trying to separate her identity from other people's memories placed within her and the directive her creator made her with.
The plot wasn't always the smoothest or the most well-developed, though.
Spoilers...
The goal of the Nazi research and the existence of the other 'golem' seemed like they should have been more obvious characters and also treated with more urgency. The tension was lower than it should have been and I think more could have been done with the Nazi's creation.
I enjoyed Vera's character -- her position as human-like, but fundamentally different physically, mentally, and emotionally was compelling. She, of course, had the struggle of wanting to be more human while also having a certain disdain for humanity that comes from seeing it from the outside. But more interesting was her desire to be part of a community and culture that she feels inherently connected to, but is cut off from because her existence is profane to them and because they have been decimated by the genocide and war that inspired her creation. She had no chance. The story captures that loss of what should have been well. The more fantastical parts of her identity struggles were compelling as well -- trying to separate her identity from other people's memories placed within her and the directive her creator made her with.
The plot wasn't always the smoothest or the most well-developed, though.
Spoilers...
The goal of the Nazi research and the existence of the other 'golem' seemed like they should have been more obvious characters and also treated with more urgency. The tension was lower than it should have been and I think more could have been done with the Nazi's creation.