Content notes are intended to inform people if this book is for them or contains things that might be dealbreakers.
The short version of the content note is a brief summary of some things a reader might wish to be aware of in advance. The long (& spoilery) version goes into more detail about the setting, context, and outcome of some of these elements within the story, in case that information is useful to you.
Content note (short version)
SOME DESPERATE GLORY contains sexist, homophobic, transphobic, racist & ableist attitudes, sexual assault including discussion of forced pregnancy, violence, child abuse, radicalisation as child abuse, genocide, suicidal ideation, and suicide.
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Content note (long version)
SOME DESPERATE GLORY is a book about escaping from a militarised death cult. The initial setting is an enclave of radical extremists who adhere to ugly beliefs about human biology and especially about sex and gender: normalised sexism, homophobia, and transphobia are a consequence. Violence is valorised and encouraged. No rape ever takes place on the page, but the culture is one where rape is a permanent possibility, and some women are expected to endure reproductive rape for the purpose of bearing children who fulfil the society’s needs and ideals. The deeper layers of the extremists’ vile beliefs – ableism, racism, eugenics – are obvious to the reader but never directly experienced by the protagonist, who is queer, cis, non-disabled, and white.
Not all the adults who created this enclave are fully on board with the worst elements of their own ideology, but this makes very little difference to the young people who grow up in it. They are taught to believe without question in this cruel and violent society. This is radicalisation, which is a form of child abuse. They are expected to live up to impossible standards and face punishment and exclusion for failing to conform and achieve – this too is abusive. The protagonist does not initially question the beliefs she grew up with. She learns to do so in the course of the story.
The leader of the enclave uses his power in this environment to pursue a hidden personal agenda of predatory sexual violence. A minor character is revealed to have been his primary victim; she escapes him, along with her child, whom she was coerced into bearing. The protagonist is later his target. His designs on her do not progress further than one nonconsensual kiss before she too finds a way out of this trap – for herself and for all who might follow her.
A major secondary character has severe depression and in one timeline commits suicide. This is not the final timeline and not the end of his story.
Timeline complications make it a little difficult to count, but there are at least three separate genocides in this story.
A final word: SOME DESPERATE GLORY takes place in a dark world but not – I think – a hopeless one. For what it’s worth: survival, escape, and change are all possible.