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punk_r0ck_dyk3's review
3.0
Okay, I have alot of feeling about this book.
This book is drama at every turn. Every second some disaster is happening, there are no reprieve or processing time for any of this. This was also a issue in book one but it made sense with the plot so I didn't care but... I do here because so many of the conflicts were unnecessary for the greater plot.
Plot armor... maybe??? There and indefinite culture and emotion consequences for all the actions at the characters make very drastic consequences at sometimes. But I started catching on that a character would be severely injured, and then functioning at full capacity a moment later? I can't remember if this was a issue in book 1 and I just didn't notice it.
The ending I have alot of mixed feeling about?? So first the resolution to the conflict throughout both books is presented to be mind control. Quite clearly aggressive mind control and it's described as turning the Senate into emotionless puppets. BUT then later it is presented as a way for the Zenzee to communicate with the people. Also Seske and Sisterkin ruling side by side was not a ended I expected and not sure I wanted.
Although the furthering of relationship with their zenzee and the people and how it's reflective of our relationship to the Earth I still really really liked and I liked how it was expanded on in this book.
I really liked the way all the characters interacted. I really value that Seske and Doka actions have real consequences and effect their relationships so much even if its heartbreaking at time. The Adalla Seske break up :( needed to happen but I love them so much.
This book is drama at every turn. Every second some disaster is happening, there are no reprieve or processing time for any of this. This was also a issue in book one but it made sense with the plot so I didn't care but... I do here because so many of the conflicts were unnecessary for the greater plot.
Plot armor... maybe??? There and indefinite culture and emotion consequences for all the actions at the characters make very drastic consequences at sometimes. But I started catching on that a character would be severely injured, and then functioning at full capacity a moment later? I can't remember if this was a issue in book 1 and I just didn't notice it.
The ending I have alot of mixed feeling about?? So first the resolution to the conflict throughout both books is presented to be mind control. Quite clearly aggressive mind control and it's described as turning the Senate into emotionless puppets. BUT then later it is presented as a way for the Zenzee to communicate with the people. Also Seske and Sisterkin ruling side by side was not a ended I expected and not sure I wanted.
Although the furthering of relationship with their zenzee and the people and how it's reflective of our relationship to the Earth I still really really liked and I liked how it was expanded on in this book.
I really liked the way all the characters interacted. I really value that Seske and Doka actions have real consequences and effect their relationships so much even if its heartbreaking at time. The Adalla Seske break up :( needed to happen but I love them so much.
gabrielleint's review
4.0
The world Drayden builds in these books is so interesting. The family structure is so fascinating. The way the humans make a generation ship out of sentient space dwelling creatures is morally terrible but very cool to read about. But they really suffer from pacing issues. Also, I feel like the book can’t decide if it’s doing magical realism or if it isn’t. I think if these books were a little longer they would flesh out the parts that Drayden sort of breezes past too quickly and they would be perfect.
rimonima's review
5.0
I really, really enjoyed this book and its predecessor. (It’s hard to talk about one without the other.) This book has such rich, detailed world-building that you really become immersed in this society that is a thousand years removed from our own. You could really feel the depth to no only the society, but also the anatomy and psychology of the Zenzee. I loved the glimpses of the other societies that exist on other Zenzees.
I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I really liked it and look forward to reading other books by this author.
I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I really liked it and look forward to reading other books by this author.
zober's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I still love the world concept, and the queerness. But Seske's still a bit annoying, and the plot of this book didn't capture me nearly as much.
danashton's review
adventurous
hopeful
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
3.0
grid's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t love this one like I remember loving the first one. It took me over a month to get through it, mostly because there were some pretty depressing parts. When I did push through them, they were always short-lived and mostly balanced out by more pleasant bits. But make no mistake... this is a dystopian story.
nicolemhill's review
3.0
I am forever a fan of Drayden's weird, messy imagination. She's so good at characters and builds worlds like none I have seen. My critique here is that the pacing felt like it was all over the place.
Do not read this series, by the way, if you're squeamish. Body horror abounds.
Do not read this series, by the way, if you're squeamish. Body horror abounds.
_shari's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
zoya_neela's review against another edition
4.0
It's been over a week, and I am still having insights into this book. My guess is that this is one I will think about for a very long time. And definitely, one that I will re-read somewhere down the line. Firstly, this is a duology that has finally fulfilled the promises that it made from the beginning! Why is this significant? Because, over the past 2/3 years [TK - verify this] I have had terrible luck with duologies.
There were only two narrators for this book, where as for the first one I think there were at least three, maybe four. It would have been nice to get another point of view, just to break things up. And I really wish that there was a diagram for the family structures of the marriages. Each of the spouses had a particular role, and I was interested in finding out more.
How different from this duology is "The Prey of Gods"? Nicky Drayden is an author that I will search out their back catalog, as well as any additional works that are to come out.
Maybe there's additional information in the physical books?
There were only two narrators for this book, where as for the first one I think there were at least three, maybe four. It would have been nice to get another point of view, just to break things up. And I really wish that there was a diagram for the family structures of the marriages. Each of the spouses had a particular role, and I was interested in finding out more.
How different from this duology is "The Prey of Gods"? Nicky Drayden is an author that I will search out their back catalog, as well as any additional works that are to come out.
Maybe there's additional information in the physical books?