Reviews with content warning for Animal death - Dvě místa na slunci

I thought this was good! If I'm being totally honest, I didn't love the way this was split between the two stories. At times, the long way to a small angry planet felt kind of like an episodic tv series, but the analogy for this book would be that it sometimes felt like I was reading two novellas with interchanging chapters. Like, idk... I know it built suspense or smth, but I felt like a lot of jane chapters just kind of hurt the tension with the sidra chapters and vice versa, because they weren't at high-tension points at the same times and so they didn't always amplify each other very well. That being said, I loved the insight into Pepper's backstory and seeing how she survived was so compelling, and the examination of Sidra's new life and how she feels navigating society as someone so fundamentally different was something I related to at times and found incredibly compelling. This had the best cozy vibes and some really great friendships (Tak!!!) which I always really appreciate. I'd recommend this, but also keep in mind that this isn't a sequel and is another standalone in the same universe- a lot of people seem to have not known that before reading this lol

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shorelinepages's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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lunatik's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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the_reading_wren's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Wow, what a story! Far darker than the first book in the series, but with the same themes of found family, healing and growth that made it worthwhile reading for me. This book also focuses on the theme of feeling at home (whether in a space, with others or within your own body). Of course the world building is fantastic too, as I’ve come to expect from Chambers, and the political, social and economic systems are interwoven through the narrative to provide plenty of moments to reflect on our own world. Overall a really satisfying answer to many of the unresolved questions left by book 1.

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greystory's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

#2 in the Wayfarers series follows the stories of AI Sindra and human techie Pepper, who we met at the end of book 1, as they essentially explore the meaning of life. It feels too easy, too light to simply say "meaning of life." I'm not being flippant and I want it to really sink in what that means because that's what this book does - takes you on a journey of discovering what it means to live. Sindra has a great scene towards the end where she talks about how all sapient beings struggle with finding purpose as she tries to explain her own difficulties with the same task.

In many ways, A Closed and Common Orbit felt heavier than The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and there's probably many reasons for that. The subject matter of the meaning of life can be pretty heavy. We're focused on two characters in a linear, detailed story instead of the shorter vignettes with a more diverse cast from book 1. We watch Pepper's past as she learns just how cruel and cold the world can be. We watch Sindra as she struggles with the consequences of her own sacrifice and trying to find a way to belong and feel right.

As their stories unfold, we see both the good and bad of the universe and each character finding a way to not just survive, but make the best of what's out there and really live. I cried a lot while reading this.

With that in mind, I feel like I should include some trigger warnings:
* Past child abuse
* Child death (implied, not on page)
* Animal violence and death
* Injury/Illness
* Seizure (or something like it)
* Panic attacks

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withlivjones's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

After the first instalment of the Wayfarers series turned out to be one of my favourite books of 2023, I was somewhat hesitant to read its sequel, and fully expecting to be disappointed that it wouldn’t live up to the very high expectations I had for it. I am extremely pleased to inform you that I was wrong - this book is just as heartwarming and wholesome as the first, this time with added heartbreak! I loved both Lovelace’s and Pepper’s stories, as well as the parallels between them both as they start new lives and everything is completely brand-new to them. I find that Becky Chambers has some of the best-worded takes on the human condition - even though in these books she’s not always talking about just humans! - and it’s so nice to occasionally read a book that gives you hope for society instead of despair.

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