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mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
First of all, let the record show that I CALLED THE PLOT TWIST at 48% of the way through the read. Anyways, bragging aside, this was a tightly-plotted, action-packed and utterly heartbreaking space opera of a novel. The reader was exemplary as well, making an overall really fantastic experience with this story.
The world building was phenomenal. I understood the power structure, the politics, and the knife’s edge on which peace existed within the first few chapters without it feeling like I was being info-dumped upon. The queernormative society was well done without being heavy-handed, and I believed all the motivations of the people and governments in the plot.
The characters are SO clutch. Ettian as a tortured product of war, poverty, homelessness and conquest was compelling, especially as his loyalties and his heart are being chipped away the entire novel. I wanted to give him a hug approximately 456 times. Gal - boisterous, naive, tender hearted Gal - was a great counterpart and match for Ettian. Their friendship was immediately believable, as was the strength of Ettian’s feelings despite everything he’s been through. And Wen as the hardened, ride-or-die misfit was the perfect foil for Ettian and a window into his life.
The only reason I took off half a star is ALSO one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much, and that is because of the humanity of the characters. On the one hand, I got a little fed up with Ettian’s loyalties constantly flip-flopping around - one second he was promising he’s always have Gal’s back, and the next he’s dreaming of revolution - but I have to admit that his being so torn is such a human reaction to an impossible situation. And Gal going from being incredibly likable to borderline hard to deal with was hard as an empathetic reader, but also … that’s EXACTLY what Ettian was going through. So yay, writing characters with nuance and skill to make them feel real but ALSO boo, real-feeling people making dumb/selfish/cowardly choices.
But hey, cuddling in space.
Onto Book 2!
The world building was phenomenal. I understood the power structure, the politics, and the knife’s edge on which peace existed within the first few chapters without it feeling like I was being info-dumped upon. The queernormative society was well done without being heavy-handed, and I believed all the motivations of the people and governments in the plot.
The characters are SO clutch. Ettian as a tortured product of war, poverty, homelessness and conquest was compelling, especially as his loyalties and his heart are being chipped away the entire novel. I wanted to give him a hug approximately 456 times. Gal - boisterous, naive, tender hearted Gal - was a great counterpart and match for Ettian. Their friendship was immediately believable, as was the strength of Ettian’s feelings despite everything he’s been through. And Wen as the hardened, ride-or-die misfit was the perfect foil for Ettian and a window into his life.
The only reason I took off half a star is ALSO one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much, and that is because of the humanity of the characters. On the one hand, I got a little fed up with Ettian’s loyalties constantly flip-flopping around - one second he was promising he’s always have Gal’s back, and the next he’s dreaming of revolution - but I have to admit that his being so torn is such a human reaction to an impossible situation. And Gal going from being incredibly likable to borderline hard to deal with was hard as an empathetic reader, but also … that’s EXACTLY what Ettian was going through. So yay, writing characters with nuance and skill to make them feel real but ALSO boo, real-feeling people making dumb/selfish/cowardly choices.
But hey, cuddling in space.
Onto Book 2!
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, Death of parent, Vomit, and Death
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