What do you think?
Rate this book
Disobedience
Shael lives in a vast prison camp, a monstrosity developed after centuries of warfare and environmental catastrophe. As a young transfeminine person, they risk abject violence if their identity and love affair with Coe, an insurrectionary activist, are discovered. But desire and rebellion flare, and soon Shael escapes to Riverwish, a settlement attempting to forge a new way of living that counters the camp’ s repression. As the complexities of this place unfold before Shael, Disobedience How can a community redress harm without reproducing unaccountable forms of violence? How do we heal? What might a compassionate, sustainable model of justice look like? This is a remarkable work of queer and trans speculative fiction that imagines how alternative forms of connection and power can refuse the violent institutions that engulf us.
220 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2024
About the author
Daniel Sarah Karasik
2 books7 followersdaniel sarah karasik (they/them) is a writer & organizer in toronto. they struggle for labour justice with the Fight for $15 and Fairness movement & help facilitate a restorative justice-based healing/rehabilitation program for formerly incarcerated people, among other community work things. the author of five books of drama, poetry, and fiction, most recently Faithful and Other Stories (Guernica Editions), they have also contributed critical writing to the Globe and Mail, National Post, and Briarpatch Magazine, and their writing for the stage has been produced across canada, in the usa, and in translation in germany. honours include the CBC Short Story Prize and the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 19, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up
In Daniel Sarah Karasik's "Disobedience," readers are plunged into a dystopian world rife with surveillance, oppression, and the struggle for identity and love. Shael, a young transfeminine person, navigates the confines of a vast prison camp, where revealing their true self and their forbidden love for Coe, a militant activist, could mean facing violent repercussions. As these dangers converge towards a tipping point, Shael escapes to Riverwish, a settlement striving to defy the camp's repression and forge a new way of life.
Karasik’s novel is adeptly interwoven with elements of queerness, liberation, and transformative justice. From the outset, the exploration of "between" as a gender identity offers a refreshing perspective, resonating with those who feel they exist beyond the binary. Shael's gender journey, especially in relation to their parents, offers a refreshing perspective on gender identity and heritage.
The book delves into the insidious nature of oppression and control, cultivating an immersive surveillance atmosphere and reflecting on the limits of obedience. Karasik's commentary on the shackling of imagination under capitalism resonated with me, reflecting on the erosion of individuality and creativity in the face of capitalist control.
Despite the thematic richness, some aspects of the book fall short. The prose at times feels clunky, hindering the immersive experience. Additionally, the narrative felt unfocused and the pacing uneven, leaving certain plot points unresolved and character development lacking. While the exploration of transformative processes and abolitionist ideologies is commendable, the execution may leave readers wanting more cohesion and depth.
Overall, "Disobedience" offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity, love, and resistance in the face of oppression. While the book grapples with complex themes and ideas, its execution may leave some readers, including myself, wanting more. While I appreciate Karasik’s reflections on power, freedom, and collective liberation, I think this needed a few more rounds of edits and could've benefitted from additional length.
Content / Trigger Warnings: Violence (minor), substance use (minor), substance abuse (minor), torture (minor), sexual content (severe)
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up
In Daniel Sarah Karasik's "Disobedience," readers are plunged into a dystopian world rife with surveillance, oppression, and the struggle for identity and love. Shael, a young transfeminine person, navigates the confines of a vast prison camp, where revealing their true self and their forbidden love for Coe, a militant activist, could mean facing violent repercussions. As these dangers converge towards a tipping point, Shael escapes to Riverwish, a settlement striving to defy the camp's repression and forge a new way of life.
Karasik’s novel is adeptly interwoven with elements of queerness, liberation, and transformative justice. From the outset, the exploration of "between" as a gender identity offers a refreshing perspective, resonating with those who feel they exist beyond the binary. Shael's gender journey, especially in relation to their parents, offers a refreshing perspective on gender identity and heritage.
The book delves into the insidious nature of oppression and control, cultivating an immersive surveillance atmosphere and reflecting on the limits of obedience. Karasik's commentary on the shackling of imagination under capitalism resonated with me, reflecting on the erosion of individuality and creativity in the face of capitalist control.
Despite the thematic richness, some aspects of the book fall short. The prose at times feels clunky, hindering the immersive experience. Additionally, the narrative felt unfocused and the pacing uneven, leaving certain plot points unresolved and character development lacking. While the exploration of transformative processes and abolitionist ideologies is commendable, the execution may leave readers wanting more cohesion and depth.
Overall, "Disobedience" offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity, love, and resistance in the face of oppression. While the book grapples with complex themes and ideas, its execution may leave some readers, including myself, wanting more. While I appreciate Karasik’s reflections on power, freedom, and collective liberation, I think this needed a few more rounds of edits and could've benefitted from additional length.
Content / Trigger Warnings: Violence (minor), substance use (minor), substance abuse (minor), torture (minor), sexual content (severe)
June 10, 2024
A transfeminine protagonist and an insurrectionist love interest risking everything to escape a vast prison camp for the unknown 'freedom' of a world ravaged by centuries of warfare and environmental catastrophe. Disobedience was one of those reads that captured my attention from the first paragraph of the cover blurb.
The problem is, all of that is largely explored within the first few chapters, serving more as background, a reason to move the story forward, rather than a story in and of itself. I was so curious about Shael, so hopeful that their love for Coe would blossom as the story progressed, but they end up settling for the role of narrator, never embracing that of protagonist. For a story in which so much can happen, and so much can change, Shael does nothing to advance it. The story happens around them, carrying them along, but I'm hard-pressed to think of even one instance where they make something happen.
That very same cover blurb ended with talk about redressing harm, violence, healing, compassion, and justice, promising alternative forms of connection and power, and that sounded fascinating. I knew this was going to be a work that would operate on two levels, but Daniel Sarah Karasik seemed to have big things to say, and I was fascinated.
As weak as I felt this was as a novel, it was as equally strong as a book of ideas. It's a story of gender and sexuality, of being other or between, with queer progress very much backsliding into the closet. Themes of oppression and control are rife throughout, with our introduction to Shael and Coe coming through forbidden sexual play that makes a BDSM kink out of violent correction. Although the plot points around them are fuzzy, at best, class warfare, capitalism, slavery, and conformity are all key themes that are explored very well. You don't always (I'd even say often) understand that world, but you feel it, and that's what idea-driven speculative fiction should do.
Where imagination and idea intersect, however, is a murky sort of middle ground that's as problematic as the world-building. The writing itself is both dense and clipped, creating a supremely uncomfortable reading experience. Perhaps that's intentional, a reflection of Shael's thoughts and emotions, but it made Disobedience a difficult novel to stick with. As I mentioned earlier, there's not a lot of plot to the book, and what little we have is told, not shown. In fact, much of the book is just talking, and without excitement to color it, without narrative depth to give it meaning, talk is . . . well, cheap.
My heart and my head are divided on this, with one wanting to give it 4 stars for ideas and the other 2 stars for entertainment, one wanting to give it 5 stars for the concept and the other 1 star for the execution, so I'll settle for a solid 3 stars.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/...
The problem is, all of that is largely explored within the first few chapters, serving more as background, a reason to move the story forward, rather than a story in and of itself. I was so curious about Shael, so hopeful that their love for Coe would blossom as the story progressed, but they end up settling for the role of narrator, never embracing that of protagonist. For a story in which so much can happen, and so much can change, Shael does nothing to advance it. The story happens around them, carrying them along, but I'm hard-pressed to think of even one instance where they make something happen.
That very same cover blurb ended with talk about redressing harm, violence, healing, compassion, and justice, promising alternative forms of connection and power, and that sounded fascinating. I knew this was going to be a work that would operate on two levels, but Daniel Sarah Karasik seemed to have big things to say, and I was fascinated.
As weak as I felt this was as a novel, it was as equally strong as a book of ideas. It's a story of gender and sexuality, of being other or between, with queer progress very much backsliding into the closet. Themes of oppression and control are rife throughout, with our introduction to Shael and Coe coming through forbidden sexual play that makes a BDSM kink out of violent correction. Although the plot points around them are fuzzy, at best, class warfare, capitalism, slavery, and conformity are all key themes that are explored very well. You don't always (I'd even say often) understand that world, but you feel it, and that's what idea-driven speculative fiction should do.
Where imagination and idea intersect, however, is a murky sort of middle ground that's as problematic as the world-building. The writing itself is both dense and clipped, creating a supremely uncomfortable reading experience. Perhaps that's intentional, a reflection of Shael's thoughts and emotions, but it made Disobedience a difficult novel to stick with. As I mentioned earlier, there's not a lot of plot to the book, and what little we have is told, not shown. In fact, much of the book is just talking, and without excitement to color it, without narrative depth to give it meaning, talk is . . . well, cheap.
My heart and my head are divided on this, with one wanting to give it 4 stars for ideas and the other 2 stars for entertainment, one wanting to give it 5 stars for the concept and the other 1 star for the execution, so I'll settle for a solid 3 stars.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/...
March 12, 2024
Disobedience touched on important social issues plaguing our society all while in a different world than our own. I was wrapped up in the dystopian, sci-fi universe where global warming and pollution has changed the surface of the planet.
Shael is a relatable and endearing character. Their struggles are unique to them, while also being understandable enough to gain my empathy. An outstandingly well written character who is constantly being subjected to impossible situations both social and physical.
In this book, capitalism has gone to the extreme. There are also themes of race, class, sexuality, gender, and environmentalism. Disobedience does a great job at dissecting all of these themes and doing them justice.
It appears that this book may be set up for an entire series and I am HERE FOR IT
Shael is a relatable and endearing character. Their struggles are unique to them, while also being understandable enough to gain my empathy. An outstandingly well written character who is constantly being subjected to impossible situations both social and physical.
In this book, capitalism has gone to the extreme. There are also themes of race, class, sexuality, gender, and environmentalism. Disobedience does a great job at dissecting all of these themes and doing them justice.
It appears that this book may be set up for an entire series and I am HERE FOR IT
March 29, 2024
I really really wanted to like this book because the summary seemed right up my alley. However, this was just not good.
First off, the prose was clumsily written. There were run on sentences mixed with short unformed clauses which broke up the pace of my reading.
I also have no idea who Shael is and they are our main character. I have no idea of their personality, wants, wishes or dreams beyond a vague hope for freedom. They were entirely passive throughout the book and very rarely took action for themselves. Everything happened to them or around them including the idea to leave the oppressive camp which is the catalyst for the story!
The side characters were more archetypes than people which I assume was intentional as this was meant to be 'speculative scifi'. But you can write a speculative book without making your characters flat.
Everything about the world was also incredibly vague. There are companies? And the mountain and a camp run by one of those companies? Then we have the rebellion camp that's caught between? None of these places have any definition to them and don't seem fully thought out.
And there's no plot. Nothing happens beyond the escape, a rescue mission and some discussion of a spy. Aside from Shael participating in the rescue mission, they aren't involved in anything but are merely a spectator. Events are described to the reader instead of being shown to them. Which is super boring.
I do think the best parts of the book are the trials in Riverwish as there is some action in them. However, they seem set up to be an excuse for philosophical arguments within the text. But since I don't care about the characters (because they are archetypes and not people), why would I care what they have to say? Karasik's musings on power and freedom are interesting, I just wish there was a better story constructed around them.
Honestly, this should have been a multi POV book with Shael in the camp, Calla coming from the Mountain and then a 3rd character already in Riverwish. We could see how their different upbringings and experiences shape how they view the world and what the future should look like.
First off, the prose was clumsily written. There were run on sentences mixed with short unformed clauses which broke up the pace of my reading.
I also have no idea who Shael is and they are our main character. I have no idea of their personality, wants, wishes or dreams beyond a vague hope for freedom. They were entirely passive throughout the book and very rarely took action for themselves. Everything happened to them or around them including the idea to leave the oppressive camp which is the catalyst for the story!
The side characters were more archetypes than people which I assume was intentional as this was meant to be 'speculative scifi'. But you can write a speculative book without making your characters flat.
Everything about the world was also incredibly vague. There are companies? And the mountain and a camp run by one of those companies? Then we have the rebellion camp that's caught between? None of these places have any definition to them and don't seem fully thought out.
And there's no plot. Nothing happens beyond the escape, a rescue mission and some discussion of a spy. Aside from Shael participating in the rescue mission, they aren't involved in anything but are merely a spectator. Events are described to the reader instead of being shown to them. Which is super boring.
I do think the best parts of the book are the trials in Riverwish as there is some action in them. However, they seem set up to be an excuse for philosophical arguments within the text. But since I don't care about the characters (because they are archetypes and not people), why would I care what they have to say? Karasik's musings on power and freedom are interesting, I just wish there was a better story constructed around them.
Honestly, this should have been a multi POV book with Shael in the camp, Calla coming from the Mountain and then a 3rd character already in Riverwish. We could see how their different upbringings and experiences shape how they view the world and what the future should look like.
July 31, 2024
Finished this today. A nice story about conflict, queer community building, and compassionate justice - but it also reads like a commentary on Gaza without once mentioning world powers. I liked it, even if it seemed to veer towards YA more than speculative fiction at times
April 25, 2024
Bravo to Karasik for writing this exquisite study of the intersections between gender, humanity, and politics. This book would make a beautiful literary comparison with Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness- I couldn’t help but notice the similarities of philosophies and cultural analysis. Like much speculative fiction aims to do, Disobedience succeeds in highlighting the structures within humankind through a creatively mythical context, revealing modern vulnerabilities with futuristic fiction.
A few times I sensed it flitted between conscious and unconscious influence, sometimes neglecting circumstances or characters to push a metaphysical train of thought. Though I felt connected with the characters and relatively satisfied with the historical background provided, I think some concepts like the between gender classification and political hierarchy/world order were used as baselines to support the abstraction of thoughts behind the work. I would have liked to see a deeper description of mentioned conditions.
I feel it’s most beautiful strength was the expression of humanity’s commitment to better itself with each generation. The dedication characters show to the current youth and future generations inspired a satisfying belief in the potential for a better world. By connecting the fluidity of sexuality, gender, power, priorities, and so much more, the reader is exposed to ideas of reality beyond the world in which they live in and the one they read about.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“And if the struggle were to stop existing because we won? Would we go mad, or invent new kinds of struggle just to keep ourselves occupied?”
“What other options were there, besides suicide? Is it really an act of resistance just to want to stay alive? When they contrast this will to survive with Coe’s militancy, the way he risks life and freedom to fight the oppressive conditions that afflict everyone in the camp, they’re embarrassed by the comparison.”
“We have always done this. We have always been asked to do this, always been able to do this. Not only console or counsel, but mediate between darknesses. Practice a cartography of transformation in a zone of unmarked roads. Foster the imagination of a future whose ethical foundation could be a goodness without innocence. A decency won by struggling through guilt. Not for the sake of a transcendent moral order—but for each other’s sake.”
A few times I sensed it flitted between conscious and unconscious influence, sometimes neglecting circumstances or characters to push a metaphysical train of thought. Though I felt connected with the characters and relatively satisfied with the historical background provided, I think some concepts like the between gender classification and political hierarchy/world order were used as baselines to support the abstraction of thoughts behind the work. I would have liked to see a deeper description of mentioned conditions.
I feel it’s most beautiful strength was the expression of humanity’s commitment to better itself with each generation. The dedication characters show to the current youth and future generations inspired a satisfying belief in the potential for a better world. By connecting the fluidity of sexuality, gender, power, priorities, and so much more, the reader is exposed to ideas of reality beyond the world in which they live in and the one they read about.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“And if the struggle were to stop existing because we won? Would we go mad, or invent new kinds of struggle just to keep ourselves occupied?”
“What other options were there, besides suicide? Is it really an act of resistance just to want to stay alive? When they contrast this will to survive with Coe’s militancy, the way he risks life and freedom to fight the oppressive conditions that afflict everyone in the camp, they’re embarrassed by the comparison.”
“We have always done this. We have always been asked to do this, always been able to do this. Not only console or counsel, but mediate between darknesses. Practice a cartography of transformation in a zone of unmarked roads. Foster the imagination of a future whose ethical foundation could be a goodness without innocence. A decency won by struggling through guilt. Not for the sake of a transcendent moral order—but for each other’s sake.”
May 21, 2024
This one's tricky, because I love the politics of this book, and some of the discussions and "what-ifs" around how to navigate community building in the face of fascism are important to address; many of them are questions that folks who have spent time in community-building spaces will recognize.
As a book, though? There are SO MANY SCENES in here that are just conversations between people who live in this (unfortunately plausible) dystopian spec-fic world, and the world is just different enough from ours that I really wanted to see more instead of just TALKING about it. There were a few scenes where we got to see the various societies in practice --- my favorite was scene where a mediation between two characters plays out in ways that I found very engaging and unexpected. I wish there had been more of that.
The best parts of "Disobedience" were reminiscent of "The Free People's Village" and "I Hope We Choose Love." I've struggled with how to rate it because I think that if the author and I sat down to have a conversation, we'd agree on a lot of things, and I would probably walk away from that discussion feeling smarter than I am now. As a book, though, I wanted more things to happen to make the story engaging... or for Karasik to drop the pretense of the fictional world entirely and just write an extended essay in clear terms. My attention wandered during the extended Socratic debates, and I was often confused about what things were supposed to look like, how old people were, etc.
Tl;dr: It's worth a read for people who are thinking about community-building and social justice. I think this would be great for a book group, particularly in an LGBTQIA+ community space.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
As a book, though? There are SO MANY SCENES in here that are just conversations between people who live in this (unfortunately plausible) dystopian spec-fic world, and the world is just different enough from ours that I really wanted to see more instead of just TALKING about it. There were a few scenes where we got to see the various societies in practice --- my favorite was scene where a mediation between two characters plays out in ways that I found very engaging and unexpected. I wish there had been more of that.
The best parts of "Disobedience" were reminiscent of "The Free People's Village" and "I Hope We Choose Love." I've struggled with how to rate it because I think that if the author and I sat down to have a conversation, we'd agree on a lot of things, and I would probably walk away from that discussion feeling smarter than I am now. As a book, though, I wanted more things to happen to make the story engaging... or for Karasik to drop the pretense of the fictional world entirely and just write an extended essay in clear terms. My attention wandered during the extended Socratic debates, and I was often confused about what things were supposed to look like, how old people were, etc.
Tl;dr: It's worth a read for people who are thinking about community-building and social justice. I think this would be great for a book group, particularly in an LGBTQIA+ community space.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 20, 2024
‘Disobedience’ follows Shael as they navigate life in an oppressive and highly surveilled, prison-like system. We follow Shael as they endeavour to escape and, alongside their found family, defy the society they have grown up in.
The themes of transformative justice, identity, queerness, and community (to name a few) are explored within a dystopian world not all too different from our own. Daniel Sarah Karasik is evidently very knowledgeable and in touch with these themes, and this shines through throughout the story, which I really appreciated and long to see more of in fiction.
Unfortunately, the overall story and the prose itself left me disappointed and wanting more. Whilst I enjoyed my time getting to know some of the characters and seeing a glimpse into their worlds, I couldn’t help but long for more detail. With some additional world-building, character-building, and overall fleshing out, this could easily have been a new favourite for me.
If you are interested in these themes and don’t mind a narrative that may leave you longing for more, then this may still be worth checking out if it is already on your radar.
Daniel Sarah Karasik is definitely one to watch, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
The themes of transformative justice, identity, queerness, and community (to name a few) are explored within a dystopian world not all too different from our own. Daniel Sarah Karasik is evidently very knowledgeable and in touch with these themes, and this shines through throughout the story, which I really appreciated and long to see more of in fiction.
Unfortunately, the overall story and the prose itself left me disappointed and wanting more. Whilst I enjoyed my time getting to know some of the characters and seeing a glimpse into their worlds, I couldn’t help but long for more detail. With some additional world-building, character-building, and overall fleshing out, this could easily have been a new favourite for me.
If you are interested in these themes and don’t mind a narrative that may leave you longing for more, then this may still be worth checking out if it is already on your radar.
Daniel Sarah Karasik is definitely one to watch, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2025
DISOBEDIENCE is a revelatory book, both for its speculative strange brilliance and its sensuality and beauty. Following Shael through this complex future world, where oppression and violence abound, we hope they might find a space free of the human tendency to dominate and where people who think their “violence is virtuous” are not the people in power. Unfortunately, like every great work of speculative fiction, there is a good deal of heartbreaking truth here. Can there ever be a singular truth, a right way to be, and to live, and to love? Will we ever exhaust our need to dominate – that includes the way we use saccharine slogans and trite language – over others?
The history we are writing for our future is happening now and DISOBEDIENCE demands of us to consider if – in that future – we will be forgiven. The characters in this novel don’t all agree on the right way to write that future, and not all of them are hopeful, but Shael might hold just enough inside hope for them all.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
The history we are writing for our future is happening now and DISOBEDIENCE demands of us to consider if – in that future – we will be forgiven. The characters in this novel don’t all agree on the right way to write that future, and not all of them are hopeful, but Shael might hold just enough inside hope for them all.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
April 6, 2024
This book starts amazingly. From the beginning I started caring for Shael and rooted for their relationship with Coe. I really enjoyed their transition from camp to their freedom (?) until you kinda realize there’s no perfect place? There’s so much politics going around, so much unexplained “us versus them”. I was bored around 60% through the end. I really did not understand why the story was so dragged. This might be some set up for future books, but overall I could not connect to the silvershore people. They kinda seemed high on their fake freedom and then suddenly you realize there’s a spy…
Anyway, this had some cozy queer friendly vibe, but the topics were not cozy at all. There’s good plot points and excellent first 30%.
Thanks netgalley for the review copy!
Anyway, this had some cozy queer friendly vibe, but the topics were not cozy at all. There’s good plot points and excellent first 30%.
Thanks netgalley for the review copy!
April 29, 2024
I was intrigued by the concept so I gave it a chance. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it. It was hard to follow the characters and timeline. I also was confused by who and which narrator even though there was one main. Also there was a jump between a timeline of 5 years? It was hard to keep up.
I also thought the character development was lacking. I did like them but felt there was also not much to hate. The concept of Between was in interesting that maybe if it was developed more I could see it be successful! I didn’t hate the writing.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
I also thought the character development was lacking. I did like them but felt there was also not much to hate. The concept of Between was in interesting that maybe if it was developed more I could see it be successful! I didn’t hate the writing.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
July 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Book*hug Press for the advance reader copy.
I didn’t have a great time reading this and felt that there needed to be a few more edits especially with the dialogue. There’s a lot of empty space within the story and some characters don’t feel like they’ve been properly thought about for the story.
It was great seeing a non binary character as the lead of this book and them being able to find their group and feel welcomed.
I think overall there was a lot of potential in this book but it needs some help getting there.
I didn’t have a great time reading this and felt that there needed to be a few more edits especially with the dialogue. There’s a lot of empty space within the story and some characters don’t feel like they’ve been properly thought about for the story.
It was great seeing a non binary character as the lead of this book and them being able to find their group and feel welcomed.
I think overall there was a lot of potential in this book but it needs some help getting there.
November 11, 2025
Disobedience by Daniel Sarah Karasik is wonderful. I read a lot of social justicey dystopias and sometimes it gets a little same-same, lacking in nuance, particularly in how wholly good and righteous the oppressed people are. But this is nuanced as all hell, while still being very clearly about oppression and liberation. I feel attached to the characters and would like to see more of them, find out what happens next. But there's a signal in there that I may just have to live with not-knowing.
June 22, 2024
A Speculative Queer Fiction Masterpiece.
How did the book make me feel/think?
“Disobedience” by Daniel Sara Karasik is a work of speculative queer fiction that delves deep into the complexities of liberation and power dynamics. This thought-provoking novel challenges readers to ponder a crucial question: When we escape oppression, are we destined to become passive or oppressors ourselves?
As the characters navigate a quest for a world basking in equality, the story explores whether humans are truly capable of living and letting live or if there will always be those who thirst for control. Karasik masterfully examines the cyclical nature of power and the inherent struggles that come with it.
“Disobedience” not only captivates with its rich narrative but also pushes readers to reflect on the paradoxes of freedom and the often-rhetorical nature of questions surrounding human behaviour and societal structures. This novel is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the nuanced interplay between liberation, equality, and the human condition.
WRITTEN: 22 June 2024
How did the book make me feel/think?
“Disobedience” by Daniel Sara Karasik is a work of speculative queer fiction that delves deep into the complexities of liberation and power dynamics. This thought-provoking novel challenges readers to ponder a crucial question: When we escape oppression, are we destined to become passive or oppressors ourselves?
As the characters navigate a quest for a world basking in equality, the story explores whether humans are truly capable of living and letting live or if there will always be those who thirst for control. Karasik masterfully examines the cyclical nature of power and the inherent struggles that come with it.
“Disobedience” not only captivates with its rich narrative but also pushes readers to reflect on the paradoxes of freedom and the often-rhetorical nature of questions surrounding human behaviour and societal structures. This novel is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the nuanced interplay between liberation, equality, and the human condition.
WRITTEN: 22 June 2024
September 12, 2024
It’s a lot to ask of a book to be doing the political work that this one does while also functioning as good fiction. Daniel Sarah is a gifted writer - understated, elegant, humanistic. I also appreciate the observational position of this book and how this allows for an imagining, without judgment, of the social and psychological consequences of a guerilla-led commune existing within a system of total authoritarianism. Purposeful speculative fiction. Recommended!
June 2, 2025
I'd like to thank Daniel Sarah Karasik, NetGalley and Book*hug Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
For being so short, landing at only 220 pages this book is dense and full to the brim with peak science fiction dystopian plot that you ache to learn more about. There is so much here, and one call tell how much work the author put into this book. Things were left out and unexplained on purpose, and while I don't quite understand why, I understand it was supposed to be that way.
Our main character Shael is a Between, a person born between the binary genders, illegal in the camp where they were born. Their lover Coe is an activist, he strives to get them out to the Waste, beyond the camp and free amongst others who've escaped.
At first I thought I was going to rate this book 3 stars, because it feels like the middle of a story, it starts after the beginning and ends before the ending, and I want to see more of it. I want the history of how the camp was made, what happened to the earth that everything is the way that it is. I want to know more about Shael, who I feel I only attached to about halfway through the book. There is a subtle underlying sadness and power to this book, and a scene near the end is what solidified me giving this four stars.
On NetGalley there are quotes below the book you've requested, to give you info on how others perceived the book. The quote in question here mentions "kinky rebellion" which just rings so disingenuous once completing the book. There are on page intimate scenes, but they're full of desire and love and need and humanity. Though I suppose one could classify some acts as kinky I just think its so much more than that.
The trigger warnings I gathered: war, wrongful imprisonment, abuse, domestic abuse, suicide, death, violence, body horror, sexual assault (mentioned), child death (not on page)
For being so short, landing at only 220 pages this book is dense and full to the brim with peak science fiction dystopian plot that you ache to learn more about. There is so much here, and one call tell how much work the author put into this book. Things were left out and unexplained on purpose, and while I don't quite understand why, I understand it was supposed to be that way.
Our main character Shael is a Between, a person born between the binary genders, illegal in the camp where they were born. Their lover Coe is an activist, he strives to get them out to the Waste, beyond the camp and free amongst others who've escaped.
At first I thought I was going to rate this book 3 stars, because it feels like the middle of a story, it starts after the beginning and ends before the ending, and I want to see more of it. I want the history of how the camp was made, what happened to the earth that everything is the way that it is. I want to know more about Shael, who I feel I only attached to about halfway through the book. There is a subtle underlying sadness and power to this book, and a scene near the end is what solidified me giving this four stars.
On NetGalley there are quotes below the book you've requested, to give you info on how others perceived the book. The quote in question here mentions "kinky rebellion" which just rings so disingenuous once completing the book. There are on page intimate scenes, but they're full of desire and love and need and humanity. Though I suppose one could classify some acts as kinky I just think its so much more than that.
The trigger warnings I gathered: war, wrongful imprisonment, abuse, domestic abuse, suicide, death, violence, body horror, sexual assault (mentioned), child death (not on page)
September 13, 2024
This had the bones to be a very interesting and compelling read, however it felt like a lot was missing. The story felt rushed; there was a lack of... something. The characters didn't feel fleshed out, the story felt rushed and it was as if we were being told how to feel and who to trust and distrust, who to like and dislike. There was nothing in the story that made me feel much of anything, really.
I really wanted to like this book however I nearly DNF it multiple times and had to push myself to finish it. The story could have been longer, with more to the backstory. It could have delved more into the camps, into the mountains and into Riverwish - the ideas were there for it but nothing felt complete.
I gave it one and half stars purely because the story does sound good. I just needed more.
I really wanted to like this book however I nearly DNF it multiple times and had to push myself to finish it. The story could have been longer, with more to the backstory. It could have delved more into the camps, into the mountains and into Riverwish - the ideas were there for it but nothing felt complete.
I gave it one and half stars purely because the story does sound good. I just needed more.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews