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graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
This is not a story that you want, if you do not want to think (Vulcan logic) and feel (human emotions).
You will already know of the relationship between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, but this story explores another strained relationship between Cleante alFaisal and T'Shael.
This story does NOT back down from the struggles of being a prisoner...and all the horrible moments within prison. It also shows the outcome and possible recovery.
Loved how our crew of the Enterprise was pivotal in this story. I at first...did NOT like the reason WHY they got themselves involved, but as the story progressed...it was less of a problem.
There were things that happened previously in the life of the crew...with the Romulan Commander (which I do not know, but it did not impact the story negatively...it just means, that when possible...I will read that story).
I believe I will be thinking about this story and its ramifications for a long time. It is a thought-provoking story, and it pushes the reader to ponder and work through aspects of the story (within themselves). I wonder how I would've reacted under these same pressures (not that I'd ever want to put myself in this situation...if I had a chance to advert it).
A really good story, that adds to the story within the Star Trek TOS universe.
You will already know of the relationship between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, but this story explores another strained relationship between Cleante alFaisal and T'Shael.
This story does NOT back down from the struggles of being a prisoner...and all the horrible moments within prison. It also shows the outcome and possible recovery.
Loved how our crew of the Enterprise was pivotal in this story. I at first...did NOT like the reason WHY they got themselves involved, but as the story progressed...it was less of a problem.
There were things that happened previously in the life of the crew...with the Romulan Commander (which I do not know, but it did not impact the story negatively...it just means, that when possible...I will read that story).
I believe I will be thinking about this story and its ramifications for a long time. It is a thought-provoking story, and it pushes the reader to ponder and work through aspects of the story (within themselves). I wonder how I would've reacted under these same pressures (not that I'd ever want to put myself in this situation...if I had a chance to advert it).
A really good story, that adds to the story within the Star Trek TOS universe.
taaya's review
I thought despite the reviews claiming that it would be very much not to my liking, I'd give it a chance.
But dear gosh, the author has a writing style that can only be described as unnecessarily pretentious and complicated. And at the same time reminding of really bad fanfiction, with all these little texts that read more like author's notes in the brackets. Maybe she was trying to look like Pratchett, just without the footnotes, but nope, the information in the brackets isn't funny or helping the world-building as much as she might think they are.
But dear gosh, the author has a writing style that can only be described as unnecessarily pretentious and complicated. And at the same time reminding of really bad fanfiction, with all these little texts that read more like author's notes in the brackets. Maybe she was trying to look like Pratchett, just without the footnotes, but nope, the information in the brackets isn't funny or helping the world-building as much as she might think they are.
remylebae's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
protovulcan's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
There's a lot of gendered violence in this that's hard to read. Or just depressing. But I really liked the bond between Cleante and T'Shael
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, and Rape
wetdryvac's review
5.0
One of the first three Star Trek novels I read, this one's a heavy hitter in terms of how reasoning behind a variety of ethical sets go. Coming from this, I found the later fluff showing up in Star Trek to be very strange.
This book does an outstanding job of addressing, "What would someone from this background and mindset do?" Which is pretty much the primary thing I ask of any book. Probably the most serious addressing of consent breach I've seen in Star Trek.
This book does an outstanding job of addressing, "What would someone from this background and mindset do?" Which is pretty much the primary thing I ask of any book. Probably the most serious addressing of consent breach I've seen in Star Trek.
mousie_books's review
5.0
The Federation has a new experiment to ensure peace among its members by holding a loved one hostage for each world. If the government breaks the peace, the hostage is immediately killed by an implant in their heart. Six of these 'warrantors of peace' have been kidnapped, and it is up to the Enterprise to find and rescue them.
I loved this book when I was a kid, and read it quite a number of times. This book is all about emotional involvement in the characters: the friendship, suffering, survival, and psyche, and each of the hostages has a distinct personality and history.
However, I am not sure it would hold up to a reread now. The plot walks the line of cheesy fan fiction, and the whole 'Warrantor of Peace' program does not really seem very Federation-like.
I loved this book when I was a kid, and read it quite a number of times. This book is all about emotional involvement in the characters: the friendship, suffering, survival, and psyche, and each of the hostages has a distinct personality and history.
However, I am not sure it would hold up to a reread now. The plot walks the line of cheesy fan fiction, and the whole 'Warrantor of Peace' program does not really seem very Federation-like.
chimichannika's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
rebecita's review
4.0
No guilty pleasure here. This was a heavy read, almost hard to finish. I've read plenty darker tales of captivity, but never in this universe. The future of Star Trek is unequivocally optimistic, aglow with scientific progress and racial harmony. But it's not a particularly feminist future. Some books and latter-day shows do a good job of rewriting a more inclusive vision. Instead, Crucible treats the man's world as realism. A woman's lot never changes, even for a strong and complex cast of female characters.
Ok, yes, it's the journey of T'Shael and Cleante discovering the power of love within themselves and across cultural mores of friendship/family/sexuality. (Note that I refuse to feel pretentious using the word mores in my review. This book is SERIOUS!) But first they get an up close and personal tour of all the ways that women can be hurt and exploited by love. The title actually comes from this description of love as a crucible: "There is that in it which can purify, refine, strengthen. There is also that which can immolate, destroy."
Even though this novel barely utilized Kirk and the gang, I wouldn't agree with those Amazon reviewers who called it "barely a Star Trek novel." In fact, this is why I always preferred reading Trek to watching it. The best books don't imitate a low-budget shoot-em-up episode, they develop the rich universe created by the shows. This one is full of great alien sociology and revisits some memorable characters like the Romulan Commander. I do wish the author had found a meaningful subplot to keep the Enterprise occupied instead of having Starfleet's flagship cruising around doing nothing but brooding about a few hostages for 6 months. (Or actually followed through on the overdramatic plot summary, which promised that the kidnapping would "shatter the Federation from within.") But thematically the young female human/Vulcan friendship is a nice mirror of longtime soulmates Kirk and Spock. (And to a lesser extent, McCoy/Spock. The autopilot bickering is too cute.)
And for me the most powerful scene is Spock reading the news as meditation/mortification.
Sorry, I know your eyes all glazed over at the first line of this nerdy nerdy review. Anyway, I'm really excited to continue with Bonanno's stuff. Always engrossing and thought-provoking.
Ok, yes, it's the journey of T'Shael and Cleante discovering the power of love within themselves and across cultural mores of friendship/family/sexuality. (Note that I refuse to feel pretentious using the word mores in my review. This book is SERIOUS!) But first they get an up close and personal tour of all the ways that women can be hurt and exploited by love. The title actually comes from this description of love as a crucible: "There is that in it which can purify, refine, strengthen. There is also that which can immolate, destroy."
Even though this novel barely utilized Kirk and the gang, I wouldn't agree with those Amazon reviewers who called it "barely a Star Trek novel." In fact, this is why I always preferred reading Trek to watching it. The best books don't imitate a low-budget shoot-em-up episode, they develop the rich universe created by the shows. This one is full of great alien sociology and revisits some memorable characters like the Romulan Commander. I do wish the author had found a meaningful subplot to keep the Enterprise occupied instead of having Starfleet's flagship cruising around doing nothing but brooding about a few hostages for 6 months. (Or actually followed through on the overdramatic plot summary, which promised that the kidnapping would "shatter the Federation from within.") But thematically the young female human/Vulcan friendship is a nice mirror of longtime soulmates Kirk and Spock. (And to a lesser extent, McCoy/Spock. The autopilot bickering is too cute.)
And for me the most powerful scene is Spock reading the news as meditation/mortification.
Sorry, I know your eyes all glazed over at the first line of this nerdy nerdy review. Anyway, I'm really excited to continue with Bonanno's stuff. Always engrossing and thought-provoking.