out of the carcass of your old life
Something happened, and now you will never be the same. A list of books focusing on characters having to rebuild their entire lives, and the kind of hope that feels like an open wound. Recommendations are welcome!
created by bronte.epub
last updated June, 2026
Comments
curation notes - a list heavily inspired by my reread of Matrix, and the parallels I keep finding with The City in Glass 🙂↕️ Both feature a main character being forced into a bad situation they never wanted, and having to decide for themselves what to do now with their lives - how do you reclaim agency when you've fallen to something bigger than yourself? How can you keep on going when it all just feels like hurt? What can you create out of the carcass of your past life?
I was also inspired by this tweet, and the different vision of hope it presents:
I will keep adding books that fit this theme as I read them, but recommendations are always welcome!
Love this list title and love these curation notes! This makes me think of City of Brass - Nahri is an MC who’s life gets turned upside more than once but she scrappy and resourceful and is determined to come out on top
ohhh, thank you for the rec! It sounds really good, adding it to both the list and my tbr 🙂↕️ out of curiosity, would you recommend city of brass or amina al-sirafi as a first read from the author?
I read city of brass first so I’m biased and that’s what I would recommend. Plus it’s a complete series while Amina is still unfinished!
hehe thank you!! i'll keep it in mind 🙂↕️💭
