The Kindest Embrace If Firm Enough Can Suffocate – Book Review
This book is exactly what the sci-fi genre needed right now – and just what I needed, too! I was so excited to get a review copy of The Kindest Embrace If Firm Enough Can Suffocate. And now I’m looking forward to telling you about the book, why I loved it, and why I think you will love it, too.
This sci-fi novel is set in another world and features a trans main character. It weaves together themes of LGBTQ+ romance, dystopian and cyberpunk genres, overcoming anxiety and bigotry, a love of poetry, and a true revolutionary spirit.
At the center of the story is Wisteria Elken – Wist to her friends. She’s a brilliant, determined dreamer who longs to be among the stars. Born on earth, the young transgender woman’s greatest goal is become a stellernaut, one of the elite who bridge the gap between Earth and the expanse of the off-world civilization.
But from everything she’s heard, the executives of Kell Princeton (the premiere spacefaring ultracorp) won’t allow a transgender stellernaut. To even have a shot at her dream, Wist has to win the favor of Kell Princeton. But this is a difficult challenge for anyone, regardless of gender identity. She’ll have to survive grueling trials – and without revealing her true identity since it’s well known the powerful ultracorp is known for its rigid conservatism.
The novel’s ability to connect so many themes – queer romance, mental health, anti-corporate protest, poetic expression, and most importantly, identity – is what makes it so uniquely special. I read as many LGBTQ+ books as I can get my hands on, and I love sci-fi, and this book quickly climbed in my top favorites.
Bennett writes about Wist’s journey with emotional intelligence, lyrical precision and authenticity that cannot be faked. It’s a story of space travel, advanced technology and cybernetic cities. But it’s also a story of passing, pretending, and surviving.
It’s about what it means to pursue your destiny in a world that sees your truth as a threat. There’s physical tension as well as deep psychological tension. Wist must navigate the dehumanizing expectations of a corporate structure that would rather erase her identity than allow her brilliance to shine freely.
I couldn’t root for her success hard enough! She’s a relatable, authentic, passionate character and as much as I wanted to rush through the story to see what happens, I also wanted to go slowly and savor each bit of it.
The worldbuilding is so well done – with spinning lights, tall skyscrapers, and maze-like bureaucracy, the City of Poets is a fantastic, strange science fiction backdrop for this story. The atmosphere strums with both life and turmoil and Bennett keeps the story hopeful, despite the dystopian undertones. From the underground poetry slams, to zero-g dancing halls, the spirit of the community is alive and well.
Then there’s the romance subplot for a quiet triumph – it never overshadows the main story, but comes in delicate, respectful, and deeply affirming. It strengthens Wist’s personal arc with solace and urgency as she navigates the challenging world around her that wants to make her invisible.
The writing itself is beautiful, poetic, strong, and bold – never shying away from difficult topics or issues. Bennet uses language like a blade dipped in honey – cutting through oppressive systems while revealing the true beauty of self-expression. It’s empowering to read.
This story is a protest wrapped in a love letter. It’s a cry for change written with tenderness. It’s a sci-fi saga that puts marginalized identity not just in the spotlight, but in the captain’s chair. I cannot recommend this highly enough!
Radical, ground-breaking, and passionate, The Kindest Embrace If Firm Enough Can Suffocate is an examination of gender, belonging, and the struggle to be yourself in a society that prioritizes assimilation over authenticity.
I want to go back and read it again. Five glowing stars from me!
It’s available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.