This is a really fascinating novella about complicated journeys of gender exploration and nonbinary identity. I really enjoyed it!

I liked how it explored how it can be complicated figuring out nonbinary identity when you’ve been raised in an environment of womanhood-can-be-anything feminism, and even when you’re well aware of queer/trans identities. I also didn’t go into this expecting it to be aromantic (for some reason - I know the author is), but it was a pleasant surprise to find the MC is aro-coded and for it to centre a friends with benefits relationship with a lot of depth!

I really enjoyed the alien story too. I love sentient spaceship creatures and also the realisation that oh, the MC is like fully an alien (many eyes…). The two stories aren’t necessarily connected in the literal way some might expect them to be, but they do have similar themes of identity and running away from your current life to find yourself.

I wanted to like Pluralities more than I did because I think it just went a bit over my head. Told in 2 stories that never quite connected (for me), it focuses on a Prince running away from a former life of royalty and a retail worker quitting their job and forging a new path and identity.

I was 100% on board in understanding "she's" story and perspective as "She" started to question their gender identity, figure out where and when to come out, and get support from people in their lives. I thought the author did a great job sharing how un-linear this process was. While I couldn't personally relate from a trans perspective (I identify as a queer cis woman), I could understand many parallels from my journey with my sexuality. The character was relatable and showcased many of the questions that arise during the process of gender discovery.

The relationship of the Prince to his AI/ship was confusing for me, and I didn't quite understand how it related to or connected to the other story. At some point in the story, "She" connects to the Prince through their gift of future sight—but again, I couldn't quite see how the gift really connected to the story or drove it forward.

Overall, the novella had some interesting writing but was too esoteric for me.

I loved this book it was a cute little novel and with the dual perspectives that we followed across space and time it got me thinking about my gender and my sexuality even though I'm confident in those and out just seeing two people deal with their experiences as such and one learning who they are and where they fit within the spectrum was a great thing to see in such a short book. Totally recommend especially to my fellow queer folk.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

This is a bit of a strange one, and I don't think I ever really Got It - I kept waiting for it to click and it just never did. There story is told through a first person POV of a person figuring out their gender, and a third person POV of a alien prince that'd run away from home with his AI ship. I never really understood the connection.

The first story was also a bit confusing to me. The universe is the exact same as our own, except women have to wear stamps on their cheeks that says SHE, and also the narrator can touch people's skin and see a flash of their future. I think the stamps was a metaphor for makeup, but I don't understand the future sight and how it related to the story at all. I did like the main narrator's gender journey and their friend Theo a lot, but the rest of the story was a bit of a miss for me.

The author narrates the book, and does a good job. I think the writing is good as well, I just didn't actually get what the point of the book was.

this was a beautiful exploration of gender and discovering ones identity in a sci-fi setting. the characters were so vivid and the author narrates the story so beautifully. if i had an ebook of this i would have been highlighting this so much. the prose were stunning. this was a character driven story for sure. if you liked the seep or finna you will love this!

I absolutely adored this novella. Avi Silver crafts a poignant and tender story of navigating one’s place in the world. We follow two story-lines that are very different from one another. Somehow, despite only following the “She” (I think that was their name? I was listening on audiobook) character for *half* of a *novella*, I felt as though I understood them, felt connected to them, SO well.

The “Prince” story line was more confusing to me, harder to picture in my mind’s eye. But I still enjoyed it, and found it emotionally compelling even though I didn’t always understand what was happening. Although I wish the storylines wove together more directly, they are each very interesting in their own right. I’m actually really curious as to how it would feel to listen to all of the “She” story line and all of the “Prince” story line as separate entities and see how that changes my reading experience. I’ll have to do that next….

Both were gorgeously written and narrated. Very much hoping that Silver narrates more books in the future.

What an unexpectedly tight work of SFF&F that is at once affirming on a personal as well as cosmic level. The two parallel narratives do such a masterful job of highlighting crucial character growth arcs, one towards gender euphoria and the other towards understanding consciousness and connection. The author's voice, both in their writing AND as an audiobook narrator, is beautiful in its simultaneous vulnerability and self-assuredness. So excited to read more from the author.

"Self discovery is a lonely experience by definition, but I don't think it has to be done alone.”

Pluralities is a dual narrative of speculative fiction following a burned-out retail worker and an alien prince as they navigate their respective journeys of identity and purpose. The story is relatively quick 1-2 day soft and heartfelt listen. It explores themes of gender euphoria, self-discovery, and the harmony between body and mind, all while challenging the necessity of labels and the boundaries of identity. Through Avi Silver’s prose, I felt like an invisible friend to both characters. Silver does an excellent job showing us the unspoken feelings/thoughts these characters go through while finding themselves. In this case, Silver narrating their own book gave particular nuances in the story delivery I feel only they could do. Looking forward to reading future works by Avi Silver.

"Pluralities" by Avi Silver is a fictional novella about two different people. One is a teenage girl who is experiencing gender disphoria. The other is a young prince who runs away in his sentient spaceship. I expected they would meet, but this didn't happen. They are just alternating different stories with similar themes of not feeling right about what gender and responsibilities one was born into. It is also their searches to figure out what will make them feel right in their bodies.

I'm a little confused by this story, to be honest. However, I think there are many who would find this book helpful in their own search for gender euphoria.

It is well written and well narrated by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atthis Arts, and Avi Silver for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This made me feel seen! I loved this book, from the writing, to the story. Omg it made me feel so much. The way the writer tells the journey of realising that they are trans was so personal and I just lost myself in this story, I wish there was more. This was beautiful!
4.75⭐️

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. The premise seemed cool, but the execution was lacking in my eyes.

First of all: I. Need. More!

Oh god, this was SO good and SO short and I’m not ready to let this novella go just yet. Avi Silver packed so much emotion into this novella that I actually had to keep taking breaks to catch my breath.
This text about identity and being and finding yourself is so wonderful. It’s accessible and visual and painful and beautiful.

„Pluralities“ is like a little journey of self-discovery that you embark on and where you might even learn a thing or two about yourself.

The writing and narrative style is also simply marvellous and everything is tightening up inside me because I just haven’t really processed the text yet.
I highly recommend reading it if identity and the freedom of your own self are important to you. And also if you want to better understand people who can’t live within the set norms because it simply doesn’t include them.


The English audiobook:
Avi Silver took it upon themself not only to write the novella, but also to read it and I think that was a wonderful decision!
The speed of the reading is pleasant and the emotions come across incredibly well. The sound quality is good, if a little „hollow“. (Like sitting in a rather empty room?)
I simply loved the performance and would listen to the audiobook again and again!

What a euphoric journey! And what a writer! Prose-master, really. Great narration, too.

This is a short novel with two parallel narratives that uniquely queer the notions of identity and relationships.

I must admit feeling a bit lost in places. I thought this was about gender identity and trans finding. How the tale of a prince and his bestie fit in went over my head until the very end, where (view spoiler). This is all about pluralities and opening up new paths rather than drawing hard lines.

I also couldn’t help but appreciate the timing of a new article in Nature on the concept of “gender modality.” This is a recent idea that helps being clarity to an individual’s gender identity and personal history … and also troubles the assumption that including a “trans” option is enough.

I look forward to reading whatever versions of plurality Silver comes up with next.

Pluralities is a novella with two POVs: a shopping mall employee questioning their gender identity and Cornelius, an alien prince who has escaped his planet with his sentient spaceship.

I picked this up because the cover is gorgeous and I was intrigued about how the two storylines would collide. At the end of it, I appreciate what it does and its message, but this felt a bit like a Frankenstein of a story. The two POVs are good for two different reasons and they just didn’t work together (for me).

On the one hand, Cornelius’ POV is sort of a space opera story about a prince escaping responsibilities and learning to trust and listen to Bo (the AI). On the other hand, the other POV is about a mall employee having a messy struggle with their sexual identity. Now, I say ‘messy struggle’ not as criticism but to reflect how real this felt. The internal battle featuring gender dysphoria and internalized misogyny for someone who is AFAB was interesting to read about and I did like that it emphasized trans positivity.

It just felt like two very different things. I liked both POVs separately and if they had been two entirely different novellas/short stories this rating would be very different. I just didn’t enjoy them as a whole thing. This being said, gorgeous writing!

2.5 stars from me, rounded down because it’s one of these books I feel I’ll forget quickly :( 5 stars for the message and the content, though!

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

This book has two seemingly very different story lines. Both intriguing but at least a bit confusing at the beginning. However once you realize how they relate this book becomes such a fascinating read. Watching those two two story lines reflect each other was just so cool.
The way it showcases gender exploration and transness really did resonate with me. It’s a process and it can be messy and it’s never fully over.
I‘m so glad I picked it up!

Dual pov through two stories that don’t seem very connected but they converge in a cool way. In one is a “She” worker navigating gender. And the other is an alien prince traveling through space in a sentient spaceship.

This was very thought provoking and interesting. It had humor and a little mystery. Very enjoyable to the point of wanting more. I could have handled more time with all the characters but it was a well crafted novella.

Thanks to netgalley and atthis arts for an alc.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced ARC of this audiobook to Listen to.

In this audiobook we are introduced to the main character a female who works in a shopping mall questioning their identity, throughout we see though their eyes the feelings, emotions, thoughts looking for a direction they want to go or are ( gender fluid, transgender etc) all being questioned and explored.

We also have a character who is a renegade Prince from another planet out in the ever ending space questioning his life and not wanting it but wanting escape.

To me this book is a beautiful way of bending both characters & feeling a competition though their spirits & finding truth.

This is also a beautiful blend of sc-fi mixed with inner perspective & truth.

I read this in one sitting and could not put it down.

"Finding who you are in the world is never easy and many spend all their lives trying to find themselves - I can see this book helping others so much.)