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jmschomers's review against another edition
5.0
Frey is so frustratingly love able.
But these books just keep getting better. The crew interactions are great.
But these books just keep getting better. The crew interactions are great.
peter_xxx's review against another edition
3.0
Another fun installment in this Firefly but a bit more steam punk series. This time there is a bit more background on the world and the setting. Super nice pulp in the best meaning of the word
ericdrosner's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
ergative's review against another edition
5.0
Fuck, I just love these books so much. I don't think this one was as *good* as previous 5-star books, but it gave me so much pleasure I can't rate it lower.
I love in particular in this one how the entire plot springs from Frey being an utter dumbass--not just an unlucky bastard who stumbled into something bigger than he realized, as in previous books, but genuinely doing something completely stupid in a way that is entirely within character for him. And yet--because of the work done in the previous two books--it is equally believable that his crew would go with him to try to fix his mistake, partly out of loyalty to him, but also--because they are who they are--out of a certain selfish understanding that they have a good thing going for them on the Ketty Jay, and it will all fall apart if Frey can't fix his problem. This isn't found family here; this is an effective crew who work despite all their flaws, and yet still retain their own bits of privacy and their own secrets. Silo's personal struggles with leadership and the way he compares his own approach to repeated failures with Frey's approach works extremely well. Crake's developing relationship with the Century Knight mirrors Frey's (slightly boring) maturing understanding of how he wants to relate to Trinica, right down to how they each do something unforgiveable in service of the main quest.
Speaking of the main quest, this book was brilliantly constructed of set pieces, each of which had its own goal, and all of which contributed directly to plot: the opening gambit (with Frey getting completely spanked by Ashua for most of that chase--attagirl, Ashua); the train heist; the Firecrow race (wonderful little bit of mercy for Harkins there); the escape from the warrens (btw, the gols were DEFINITELY inspired by gollum); the prison break, and the eventual climax in the Axryx city (btw, the eventual demon-wranglling set-up was DEFINITELY inspired by ghostbusters)--all of it was so nicely integrated with the plot and the various characters arcs. Even Pinn's brief attempt at being an inventor gets a chance to play into things. Silo's arc especially I found the most moving. He's been rather neglected in the previous two books when it comes to backstory, but he got a very good one here.
Anyway, great fun. Great ride. I immediately started the next one.
I love in particular in this one how the entire plot springs from Frey being an utter dumbass--not just an unlucky bastard who stumbled into something bigger than he realized, as in previous books, but genuinely doing something completely stupid in a way that is entirely within character for him. And yet--because of the work done in the previous two books--it is equally believable that his crew would go with him to try to fix his mistake, partly out of loyalty to him, but also--because they are who they are--out of a certain selfish understanding that they have a good thing going for them on the Ketty Jay, and it will all fall apart if Frey can't fix his problem. This isn't found family here; this is an effective crew who work despite all their flaws, and yet still retain their own bits of privacy and their own secrets. Silo's personal struggles with leadership and the way he compares his own approach to repeated failures with Frey's approach works extremely well. Crake's developing relationship with the Century Knight mirrors Frey's (slightly boring) maturing understanding of how he wants to relate to Trinica, right down to how they each do something unforgiveable in service of the main quest.
Speaking of the main quest, this book was brilliantly constructed of set pieces, each of which had its own goal, and all of which contributed directly to plot: the opening gambit (with Frey getting completely spanked by Ashua for most of that chase--attagirl, Ashua); the train heist; the Firecrow race (wonderful little bit of mercy for Harkins there); the escape from the warrens (btw, the gols were DEFINITELY inspired by gollum); the prison break, and the eventual climax in the Axryx city (btw, the eventual demon-wranglling set-up was DEFINITELY inspired by ghostbusters)--all of it was so nicely integrated with the plot and the various characters arcs. Even Pinn's brief attempt at being an inventor gets a chance to play into things. Silo's arc especially I found the most moving. He's been rather neglected in the previous two books when it comes to backstory, but he got a very good one here.
Anyway, great fun. Great ride. I immediately started the next one.
goonerette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bulbasaurusthe7th's review against another edition
5.0
It's always difficult to write a review of the later books in a series, so this will just be some observations about this one.
This is my second time reading through the series, which means I went in already knowing I liked it a lot. Now, if you are just first picking it all up, it probably takes some time to get to know the characters and start seriously caring about them, but by book 3 you are supposedly all in. By now we know most of the character's back stories, usually through shorter little flashbacks and conversations.
Here, though, Silo's past is used as the backdrop of a considerable chunk of the story and is more integrated into the whole thing.
Another interesting choice with the characters is adding one more member to the crew. That was kind of risky, especially when the ones we already have are so freaking likeable; that is one of the big strengths of the series, the group dynamic and the characters themselves. Now I am not saying I dislike Ashua, but there is no way I am liking her as much as for example Malvery. Nah, mate.
The exciting scenes (like one specific one with a fighter jet race) are extremely cinematic and cool. Part of me wants to see this as a series. Then again, looking at the track record big studios have with book adaptations, I do not want to see this ruined by turning Jez into a manhating turbo lesbian or changing Silo's back story, because black people can't be slavers.
But you could just see it, the huge fights and flying and freaking daemonism.
All in all, this is still one of my favourite series ever.
This is my second time reading through the series, which means I went in already knowing I liked it a lot. Now, if you are just first picking it all up, it probably takes some time to get to know the characters and start seriously caring about them, but by book 3 you are supposedly all in. By now we know most of the character's back stories, usually through shorter little flashbacks and conversations.
Here, though, Silo's past is used as the backdrop of a considerable chunk of the story and is more integrated into the whole thing.
Another interesting choice with the characters is adding one more member to the crew. That was kind of risky, especially when the ones we already have are so freaking likeable; that is one of the big strengths of the series, the group dynamic and the characters themselves. Now I am not saying I dislike Ashua, but there is no way I am liking her as much as for example Malvery. Nah, mate.
The exciting scenes (like one specific one with a fighter jet race) are extremely cinematic and cool. Part of me wants to see this as a series. Then again, looking at the track record big studios have with book adaptations, I do not want to see this ruined by turning Jez into a manhating turbo lesbian or changing Silo's back story, because black people can't be slavers.
But you could just see it, the huge fights and flying and freaking daemonism.
All in all, this is still one of my favourite series ever.
ephermeyal's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ohhh, I've been able to enjoy this despite the unchecked sexism and racism (tho, mej mas self-aware na rito compared sa prev book) kasi the writing is really heartfelt.
The hmm blunt? unflinching? basta the writing voice really fits the setting and the conciseness is really really admirable. Like, ang ganda ng pacing ng sentences. HHHHHH 'di ko mapinpoint ano, pero basta something about the placement of the adverbs? yung pagstructure ng sentences? basta the rhythm!! like alam ng author where to put the words and when for the most impact, whether it's for delivering a joke or a plot twist
And also very undistracting yung descriptions (parang v economical if that makes sense) such that you can immerse yourself and just focus mismo sa mga ganap, but even if ganun, you still get a sense that these characters, people, are moving in an entire world with various languages and cultures. Tapos ang snappy ng dialogue and may distinct voices talaga and mannerisms yung characters na alam na alam mo agad sino nagsasalita. I mean, dapat ganun talaga pero andami kong nae-encounter na SAME YUNG VOCAB ng lahat ng speakers and ;-;
hmmm di ko pa rin mapinpoint nang maayos kung ano exactly nagpapa-high quality sa writing naurr so basta fluid and ayos
oo nga no, I think another point for this book is that v refreshing for me yung makabasa ng I'd say dystopian, fantasy novel where the focal point is this ragtag crew going from one harebrained scheme to another all to save their asses. Parang, what big picture? wdym leading or stoking a revolution? They just fucking nope out whenever it gets dangerous LMAOOO what are morals
hmm w all these, I wonder if I should reread this someday. Rn kasi even though natuwa ako sa mga characters and yung banter nila, I don't really feel keen na balikan ulit 'to in the future
The hmm blunt? unflinching? basta the writing voice really fits the setting and the conciseness is really really admirable. Like, ang ganda ng pacing ng sentences. HHHHHH 'di ko mapinpoint ano, pero basta something about the placement of the adverbs? yung pagstructure ng sentences? basta the rhythm!! like alam ng author where to put the words and when for the most impact, whether it's for delivering a joke or a plot twist
And also very undistracting yung descriptions (parang v economical if that makes sense) such that you can immerse yourself and just focus mismo sa mga ganap, but even if ganun, you still get a sense that these characters, people, are moving in an entire world with various languages and cultures. Tapos ang snappy ng dialogue and may distinct voices talaga and mannerisms yung characters na alam na alam mo agad sino nagsasalita. I mean, dapat ganun talaga pero andami kong nae-encounter na SAME YUNG VOCAB ng lahat ng speakers and ;-;
hmmm di ko pa rin mapinpoint nang maayos kung ano exactly nagpapa-high quality sa writing naurr so basta fluid and ayos
oo nga no, I think another point for this book is that v refreshing for me yung makabasa ng I'd say dystopian, fantasy novel where the focal point is this ragtag crew going from one harebrained scheme to another all to save their asses. Parang, what big picture? wdym leading or stoking a revolution? They just fucking nope out whenever it gets dangerous LMAOOO what are morals
hmm w all these, I wonder if I should reread this someday. Rn kasi even though natuwa ako sa mga characters and yung banter nila, I don't really feel keen na balikan ulit 'to in the future
sophiewilliams's review against another edition
4.0
Again Wooding is managing to add to his world and the understanding of the characters without repeating ground or appearing formulaic. I'm intrigued to see what happens when the series continues.
anywiebs's review against another edition
3.0
This was a strange reading experience. I was constantly torn between enjoying the writing and characters, and being annoyed by both.
I couldn't fly through this as I had expected, somehow I had no problem taking breaks in the middle of tense and fast paced action scenes.
In the middle I really didn't like what the author did but by the end I appreciated it more.
I think it's more me than the book, but something doesn't completely work here.
I couldn't fly through this as I had expected, somehow I had no problem taking breaks in the middle of tense and fast paced action scenes.
In the middle I really didn't like what the author did but by the end I appreciated it more.
I think it's more me than the book, but something doesn't completely work here.