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kers's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best sci-fi books I've ever read, if I'm being honest. I come back to it like clockwork every other month for a reread. If you like kickass female leads, gritty backgrounds and some tongue in cheek commentary you'll enjoy this :]
si0bhan's review against another edition
4.0
If I’m being completely honest, this one really surprised me.
I love science fiction books, yet I find myself thinking they’re often a case of hit or miss. Either every mark is hit or I’m left wanting something more. Of course there are varying degrees of the latter, but I often find myself reading books that fall into that category. More often than I’d like, science fiction books leave me wanting something more. This doesn’t stop me from reading more books in the genre, but it does mean I don’t go out of my way to read as many as I would like. I prefer to know I’m getting something good before picking up a science fiction book that could leave me disappointed.
When I saw a Goodreads giveaway for Windswept, I decided to enter. If anything, it sounded like one of those humorous science fiction books that are out on the market. Not one of those ‘oh my gosh I cannot breathe’ funny ones, but one to bring a smile to your face. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have been heartbroken if I hadn’t won the book. I wasn’t crazy obsessed with winning as I am with some other books (you know what I mean, those times where a book by your favourite author is named in a giveaway). Thus, when I woke up to find two emails from Goodreads informing me of winnings, I found my joy being transferred between the two books. I had won Windswept by Adam Rakunas (earning an ‘I can find out if this is worth it’ yay) and Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie (earning a ‘hooray for the short story collection that I am interested in’ yay), with the two combining to make an ‘oh my, I won two books and want to read them both now’ yay.
I debated reading Sharp Ends first, but in the end I went for Windswept. I’d just come out of reading the First Law trilogy, and whilst jumping straight into the short stories would have been fine, I felt like a break. I went into Windswept hoping for something much lighter, something other than the kind of high fantasy that leaves you reading at a slower pace than usual, and was not disappointed.
It was an easy read, but this is not at all a bad thing. Sometimes science fiction books can really weigh you down as information is thrown at you. My science knowledge is pretty decent (if you’ll accept a moment where I sound big-headed) yet this does not make me an astrophysicist, and it’s always nice when science fiction books are at a level where everyone can understand them. This one reads as though it’s set in the not too distant future: far enough away for the planet we’re on to be unique but similar enough to the modern world to prevent a headache from forming as you try to work your way around it. Whilst this world does have a decent amount for us to learn, it’s done in such a way that you feel as though it’s telling the story in the modern world. It is always great when science fiction books read in such a way. Honestly, there were so many points in favour of the story for that alone.
The story itself was great. The synopsis reads as though you’re in for a humorous story, but such isn’t what you’re given. There are a handful of moments to bring a smile to your face, but it’s not the kind to leave you chuckling at every other sentence. It’s a serious read with the occasional smidgen of humour thrown in, despite how the notion of the story could have you believing otherwise.
Honestly, I was truly blown away by how good it was.
Things were a little slow at first, but once the story got going it was a lot of fun. The characters were brilliant, there was plenty of action, there were many twists, and it makes you think. It truly was a surprising read. I can certainly see myself going on to read the next book.
Overall, a great surprise. I’m so glad I won this one.
I love science fiction books, yet I find myself thinking they’re often a case of hit or miss. Either every mark is hit or I’m left wanting something more. Of course there are varying degrees of the latter, but I often find myself reading books that fall into that category. More often than I’d like, science fiction books leave me wanting something more. This doesn’t stop me from reading more books in the genre, but it does mean I don’t go out of my way to read as many as I would like. I prefer to know I’m getting something good before picking up a science fiction book that could leave me disappointed.
When I saw a Goodreads giveaway for Windswept, I decided to enter. If anything, it sounded like one of those humorous science fiction books that are out on the market. Not one of those ‘oh my gosh I cannot breathe’ funny ones, but one to bring a smile to your face. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have been heartbroken if I hadn’t won the book. I wasn’t crazy obsessed with winning as I am with some other books (you know what I mean, those times where a book by your favourite author is named in a giveaway). Thus, when I woke up to find two emails from Goodreads informing me of winnings, I found my joy being transferred between the two books. I had won Windswept by Adam Rakunas (earning an ‘I can find out if this is worth it’ yay) and Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie (earning a ‘hooray for the short story collection that I am interested in’ yay), with the two combining to make an ‘oh my, I won two books and want to read them both now’ yay.
I debated reading Sharp Ends first, but in the end I went for Windswept. I’d just come out of reading the First Law trilogy, and whilst jumping straight into the short stories would have been fine, I felt like a break. I went into Windswept hoping for something much lighter, something other than the kind of high fantasy that leaves you reading at a slower pace than usual, and was not disappointed.
It was an easy read, but this is not at all a bad thing. Sometimes science fiction books can really weigh you down as information is thrown at you. My science knowledge is pretty decent (if you’ll accept a moment where I sound big-headed) yet this does not make me an astrophysicist, and it’s always nice when science fiction books are at a level where everyone can understand them. This one reads as though it’s set in the not too distant future: far enough away for the planet we’re on to be unique but similar enough to the modern world to prevent a headache from forming as you try to work your way around it. Whilst this world does have a decent amount for us to learn, it’s done in such a way that you feel as though it’s telling the story in the modern world. It is always great when science fiction books read in such a way. Honestly, there were so many points in favour of the story for that alone.
The story itself was great. The synopsis reads as though you’re in for a humorous story, but such isn’t what you’re given. There are a handful of moments to bring a smile to your face, but it’s not the kind to leave you chuckling at every other sentence. It’s a serious read with the occasional smidgen of humour thrown in, despite how the notion of the story could have you believing otherwise.
Honestly, I was truly blown away by how good it was.
Things were a little slow at first, but once the story got going it was a lot of fun. The characters were brilliant, there was plenty of action, there were many twists, and it makes you think. It truly was a surprising read. I can certainly see myself going on to read the next book.
Overall, a great surprise. I’m so glad I won this one.
mformato's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was like eight action movies packed in one. There were so many twists and turns and changes that kept me invested in the story; I had no idea where things were gonna go.
I like how all the big reveals were built up and could have been obvious if you paid close attention, but with so much going on the little hints didn't add up until they were spilled.
I wish there was more history and information about The Big Three and Mehta's past; I felt her "mystery" was kinda subpar compared to everything else in the book and I think her character could have been fleshed out a little more with some additional context to her past.
Overall though, this was a good, action-pack sci-fi and I would recommend it to anyone who like being thrown right into a story that is packed full of punches.
I like how all the big reveals were built up and could have been obvious if you paid close attention, but with so much going on the little hints didn't add up until they were spilled.
I wish there was more history and information about The Big Three and Mehta's past; I felt her "mystery" was kinda subpar compared to everything else in the book and I think her character could have been fleshed out a little more with some additional context to her past.
Overall though, this was a good, action-pack sci-fi and I would recommend it to anyone who like being thrown right into a story that is packed full of punches.
bookadventurer's review against another edition
3.0
Read my full review and see Read-alikes on The Book Adventures on September 4th.
Padma Mehta is a Union representative on a hardscrabble planet at the edge of the known universe. Her job is to recruit people who escape from passing spaceships owned by The Big Three corporations. (I'll explore in more detail why they jump ship in a bit). She's only 30-odd people from her huge bonus, which she plans to spend on a rum distillery that she will run after she retires. When she gets wind of a large number of refugees about to drop onto the surface from orbit, she makes plans to grab them and attach them to her region. Unfortunately, her plans go awry as she is opposed by her arch-nemesis and thwarted by her foolish con-man acquaintance. What ensues is a series of entertaining hijinks through cane fields, the sea, and sewage tunnels as she tries to keep her new employees safe. Everything seems to continually go wrong for Padma and her charges, and she keeps having to alter her plans and make concessions in order to keep everyone alive, including herself.
The social and economic system that dominates the universe is one of corporate bondage, whereby individuals sign contracts with corporations that make them indentured servants for decades of their lives. The rationale given by supporters of it resembles the early indentured servitude in the American colonies and slavery (particularly, that it supposedly provides a support system, protects the "servants," by providing them with everything they need and making difficult decisions for them). "Breaches" are people who escape from The Big Three, often by making extremely dangerous jumps from orbit to the surface of Windswept.
Padma, having escaped from her own contract, directly opposes the stranglehold the corporations have on people. A reluctant hero, with dreams of her own rum plantation constantly on her mind (and drifting further away, as she goes along), she nevertheless truly believes that everyone should be able to break free of their indentured servitude. As union members, she and others on Windswept are protected from the corporations by their ... numbers? contract? This is never quite clear, but what is clear is that once the contract with the union is signed, a person is protected from the consequences of breaking their contract with the corporations. Union members are required to work in any job that is available, because there aren't enough people to fill all the jobs, so many of them end up working in sewage and other unsavory positions, which causes some resentment among the rank and file, as you might guess. A third, less-explored level of freedom is enjoyed by the Freeborn, who are not members of the union or the corporations. Everyone - union, corporate servant, or freeborn - is open to the exploitation of the corporations.
The humor is one of the great advantages of this book, between Padma's outlook on life, the platitudes and mendacious explanations she give to the Breaches in her charge, and the goofy mishaps she keeps having. Readers who enjoy their science fiction with humor and boisterous adventures will likely enjoy Windswept.
Padma Mehta is a Union representative on a hardscrabble planet at the edge of the known universe. Her job is to recruit people who escape from passing spaceships owned by The Big Three corporations. (I'll explore in more detail why they jump ship in a bit). She's only 30-odd people from her huge bonus, which she plans to spend on a rum distillery that she will run after she retires. When she gets wind of a large number of refugees about to drop onto the surface from orbit, she makes plans to grab them and attach them to her region. Unfortunately, her plans go awry as she is opposed by her arch-nemesis and thwarted by her foolish con-man acquaintance. What ensues is a series of entertaining hijinks through cane fields, the sea, and sewage tunnels as she tries to keep her new employees safe. Everything seems to continually go wrong for Padma and her charges, and she keeps having to alter her plans and make concessions in order to keep everyone alive, including herself.
The social and economic system that dominates the universe is one of corporate bondage, whereby individuals sign contracts with corporations that make them indentured servants for decades of their lives. The rationale given by supporters of it resembles the early indentured servitude in the American colonies and slavery (particularly, that it supposedly provides a support system, protects the "servants," by providing them with everything they need and making difficult decisions for them). "Breaches" are people who escape from The Big Three, often by making extremely dangerous jumps from orbit to the surface of Windswept.
Padma, having escaped from her own contract, directly opposes the stranglehold the corporations have on people. A reluctant hero, with dreams of her own rum plantation constantly on her mind (and drifting further away, as she goes along), she nevertheless truly believes that everyone should be able to break free of their indentured servitude. As union members, she and others on Windswept are protected from the corporations by their ... numbers? contract? This is never quite clear, but what is clear is that once the contract with the union is signed, a person is protected from the consequences of breaking their contract with the corporations. Union members are required to work in any job that is available, because there aren't enough people to fill all the jobs, so many of them end up working in sewage and other unsavory positions, which causes some resentment among the rank and file, as you might guess. A third, less-explored level of freedom is enjoyed by the Freeborn, who are not members of the union or the corporations. Everyone - union, corporate servant, or freeborn - is open to the exploitation of the corporations.
The humor is one of the great advantages of this book, between Padma's outlook on life, the platitudes and mendacious explanations she give to the Breaches in her charge, and the goofy mishaps she keeps having. Readers who enjoy their science fiction with humor and boisterous adventures will likely enjoy Windswept.
bbnut45's review against another edition
3.0
The plot was decent but no real surprises. Padma was likeable and strong which was good. Not a lot of forward looking science fiction, perhaps due to the particular planet and situation. As a result gabe the book an average rating.
jillheather's review against another edition
3.0
A really promising debut, and I like the idea of Unions In Space, though the execution (double triple cross! suddenly confusing action!) needs a bit of help. (I'd really love to read about fantasy unions -- which I guess is Max Gladstone.)
mikhailrekun's review against another edition
3.0
It's... okay. It's not bad, certainly not for a first book, but it also doesn't do anything great. The setting is intriguing in outline, but in practice is pretty much a standard 'poor slum' type area. There are a lot of action scenes, but none which really enthrall, and the characters are a bit by-the-numbers. You've got the Tough-as-nails-with-emotional-issues-and-a-grim-background female protagonist, you've got the Understanding-love-interest-with-a-shady-past, you've got the Plucky-sidekick-girl and One-shot-comic-relief and it's just... meh.
DNF at about 30%.
DNF at about 30%.
imyril's review against another edition
4.0
Padma Mehta needs to recruit 33 more people to the Union and pad her bank account with the signing bonus if she's to buy the Old Windswept distillery. When an opportunity comes by that would put her over the line, she can't pass it up - even if it is put her way by smelly loser Vytai Bloombeck. Padma's forgotten that if something sounds too good to be true, it possibly is. The next few days will test what she's really willing to do to make her numbers and save her planet.
This is a hell of a ride - you may feel as battered as its grumpy heroine by the end of the twists, turns, accelerations and nosedives - but if you finish it without a grin I'll be surprised. Honestly, it's worth the price of admission for the irrepressible lawyer and the snarky old ladies at the end. Screwball scifi noir for the win.
Full review, and much enthusiasm.
This is a hell of a ride - you may feel as battered as its grumpy heroine by the end of the twists, turns, accelerations and nosedives - but if you finish it without a grin I'll be surprised. Honestly, it's worth the price of admission for the irrepressible lawyer and the snarky old ladies at the end. Screwball scifi noir for the win.
Full review, and much enthusiasm.
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