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jack_iwashyna's review
adventurous
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
4.0
Solidly plotted space opera w a strong anti imperialist flair
sophia_listens's review against another edition
DNF at 76%
I usually wouldn't quit 10+ hours into a book but I just can't sit through any more of this one.
Very disappointed because on paper (and according to the algorithm!) I should love this but it's very poorly done.
There's nothing original or even paticularly interesting here. A very generic and undeveloped world, zero character development. It doesn't dive very deeply into the themes it explores, and all the ideas are spelled out very blutly to the reader, rather than being thought-provoking.
Somehow everything feels really flat - even the scenes where characters lives are meant to be in danger are really dull, the political intrigue is not gripping or well-developed. And it's hard to care about the characters anyway since they're all so two dimensional.
I kept hoping for an interesting plot twist but it's extremely predictable. Not everything has to be a masterpiece like A Memory Called Empire, I don't mind something more middle of the road sometimes but this isn't even entertaining.
Maybe 1.5/5 - do not recommend.
I usually wouldn't quit 10+ hours into a book but I just can't sit through any more of this one.
Very disappointed because on paper (and according to the algorithm!) I should love this but it's very poorly done.
There's nothing original or even paticularly interesting here. A very generic and undeveloped world, zero character development. It doesn't dive very deeply into the themes it explores, and all the ideas are spelled out very blutly to the reader, rather than being thought-provoking.
Somehow everything feels really flat - even the scenes where characters lives are meant to be in danger are really dull, the political intrigue is not gripping or well-developed. And it's hard to care about the characters anyway since they're all so two dimensional.
I kept hoping for an interesting plot twist but it's extremely predictable. Not everything has to be a masterpiece like A Memory Called Empire, I don't mind something more middle of the road sometimes but this isn't even entertaining.
Maybe 1.5/5 - do not recommend.
adazzlinggirl's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.0
theyellowhobbit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, and Death
m_petranoff's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
A mysterious and well written tale of being colonized and outcast and what power looks like in highly constructed societies. A strange world built deftly, though sometimes slow to move.
ale_ja's review
quite lovely as bloodsoaked space operas go, i’m excited to read more by kemi ashing-giwa
zgreyz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.25
witchofthesword's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
whami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.5
geekmom's review
I really wanted to like this book, and there was a lot to like - the premise was intriguing, the world was fascinating, and the political intrigue hinted at some kind of interesting plot. Unfortunately, for me all of the compelling elements of this book were let down by the writing.
The main character lacked nuance and it often wasn't clear to me what the motivation for her actions was. Also, there was far too much of a feeling of the reader being beaten over the head with the (valid, and important, but still too unsubtle and repetitive) message about the evils of colonialism and imperialism. Don't get me wrong, I think that these are important themes to explore, but the way this was accomplished in this book just made me grit my teeth in frustration -- there were just far too many scenes in which one-dimensional, clueless and insufferably condescending characters acted like evil, clueless colonialists and made the main character angry (again, the anger in these situations is understandable and valid!). The overall effect was simply to make me feel distanced from the book and from the parts of it that I liked. Eventually I decided there are too many good books out there waiting for me to read them to justify continuing with one that was annoying me, so it's to move on.
I think there are some interesting ideas here, and I will watch this author to see how her future books do. But this one is simply not for me.
I've seen this book compared to A Memory Called Empire and the Imperial Radch trilogy. I have to say that I find those comparisons flawed. It's like saying that if you ate and liked a fresh, handmade pizza in Italy that just came out of a wood-fired oven, you should try this store-brand frozen pizza made in a factory somewhere in suburban North America. They have the same ingredients, but they are completely different finished products, and if you eat the frozen pizza believing you are getting something similar to the authentic Italian one it will just make you wish you were eating the real thing. Don't pick this up expecting the gorgeous, Hugo-award-winning, evocative writing, the subtle social and cultural worldbuilding, and the thoughtful exploration of themes of imperialism and power that are found in Martine's and Leckie's books. You will be disappointed.
I think there are some interesting ideas here, and I will watch this author to see how her future books do. But this one is simply not for me.
I've seen this book compared to A Memory Called Empire and the Imperial Radch trilogy. I have to say that I find those comparisons flawed. It's like saying that if you ate and liked a fresh, handmade pizza in Italy that just came out of a wood-fired oven, you should try this store-brand frozen pizza made in a factory somewhere in suburban North America. They have the same ingredients, but they are completely different finished products, and if you eat the frozen pizza believing you are getting something similar to the authentic Italian one it will just make you wish you were eating the real thing. Don't pick this up expecting the gorgeous, Hugo-award-winning, evocative writing, the subtle social and cultural worldbuilding, and the thoughtful exploration of themes of imperialism and power that are found in Martine's and Leckie's books. You will be disappointed.