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timinbc's review against another edition
2.0
Hey, I *like* sentient spaceships. I've devoured all of Banks and Leckie and Asher and others.
And superficially this is similar. It bops along well, with action but also some moral dilemmas and crises. The Trouble Dog is good, Nod is tedious, Clay is a cardboard all-anger-all-the-time, Konstanz is weak but credible, ..
The genocide bit was important to the plot, but I didn't get much out of the brief handwaving about why it was necessary. Probably something like "We saved lives by bombing Hiroshima" - which may be true but let's not argue it here.
So here’s Ona Sudak, galactically-famous poet in a galaxy that shows no sign of any interest in the arts. Poets aren't that famous now, and if they have become so the author needs to tell us why. Also maybe show us a few verses, or at least talk about them. Feh.
Frothing-at-the-mouth Admiral Menderes. Pfui. Not a credible character.
Then we come to the ending. I'm fine with a Big Unexplainable Object, but when it's Bigger On The Inside and is not a TARDIS, we need some more handwaving. When you fill it with a million ships that have ultraweapons, yet have a collective mind much like a strictly-trained puppy, sheesh. Last time I read that concept it was in the teen section of the library, or possibly pre-teen.
This one was just as promising-but-disappointing as Ack-Ack Macaque.
And superficially this is similar. It bops along well, with action but also some moral dilemmas and crises. The Trouble Dog is good, Nod is tedious, Clay is a cardboard all-anger-all-the-time, Konstanz is weak but credible, ..
The genocide bit was important to the plot, but I didn't get much out of the brief handwaving about why it was necessary. Probably something like "We saved lives by bombing Hiroshima" - which may be true but let's not argue it here.
So here’s Ona Sudak, galactically-famous poet in a galaxy that shows no sign of any interest in the arts. Poets aren't that famous now, and if they have become so the author needs to tell us why. Also maybe show us a few verses, or at least talk about them. Feh.
Frothing-at-the-mouth Admiral Menderes. Pfui. Not a credible character.
Then we come to the ending. I'm fine with a Big Unexplainable Object, but when it's Bigger On The Inside and is not a TARDIS, we need some more handwaving. When you fill it with a million ships that have ultraweapons, yet have a collective mind much like a strictly-trained puppy, sheesh.
Spoiler
We didn't have a leader, but now we have you.Spoiler
"Me, king of this world? Far out!"This one was just as promising-but-disappointing as Ack-Ack Macaque.
newtread's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
retired_to_alternate_universe's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent! The best science-fiction I've read since The Expanse series
sentientspace's review against another edition
5.0
Embers of War is the first book in a new series from Gareth L. Powell. I'm not going to discuss the plot details - the summary is available elsewhere. The book completed a great story arc that included political and military considerations and left me feeling that many of the key characters had either received their dues, or had been given the means to absolve themselves. This sets up things nicely for the future.
There are a variety of key characters, each with a fascinating aspect to their backstory. Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of these characters. I found this a little tricky initially, until I got to know them, but it was an innovative way of moving the story forward along with quickly developing the motivations of the characters. This approach, coupled with many short chapters added a nice sense of pace to the narrative.
I felt the world building provided just enough context to understand what was happening, but pleasantly didn't get bogged down in extraneous details, so there is lots of potential for future books to go in a variety of directions.
The book left me wanting to know more about what will happen next - fortunately, it isn't too long until the next book, Fleet of Knives, is released.
There are a variety of key characters, each with a fascinating aspect to their backstory. Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of these characters. I found this a little tricky initially, until I got to know them, but it was an innovative way of moving the story forward along with quickly developing the motivations of the characters. This approach, coupled with many short chapters added a nice sense of pace to the narrative.
I felt the world building provided just enough context to understand what was happening, but pleasantly didn't get bogged down in extraneous details, so there is lots of potential for future books to go in a variety of directions.
The book left me wanting to know more about what will happen next - fortunately, it isn't too long until the next book, Fleet of Knives, is released.
_ottavia_'s review against another edition
1.0
Ok, andiamo con ordine.
Mi aspettavo che mi piacesse molto, questo libro. Veloce, divertente, quella fantascienza leggera di cui tutti ogni tanto abbiamo bisogno. E dopo The Expanse volevo solo continuare a leggere di roba nello Spazio. Purtroppo però il libro ha alcuni difetti non da poco: è scritto bene ma parte lento e non si capisce dove voglia andare a parare. Pagine e pagine di ricordi e conflitti interiori di personaggi di cui, sinceramente, non mi importava nulla. La trama, che inizia più o meno a metà libro, è poi vista e rivista e la cosa neanche mi disturberebbe tanto se non fosse che i diffetti si accumulano fino a sovrastare i pregi. Insomma, so che a molti è piaciuto molto, a me ha prevalentemente annoiato, pur avendolo finito in un paio di giorni.
Mi aspettavo che mi piacesse molto, questo libro. Veloce, divertente, quella fantascienza leggera di cui tutti ogni tanto abbiamo bisogno. E dopo The Expanse volevo solo continuare a leggere di roba nello Spazio. Purtroppo però il libro ha alcuni difetti non da poco: è scritto bene ma parte lento e non si capisce dove voglia andare a parare. Pagine e pagine di ricordi e conflitti interiori di personaggi di cui, sinceramente, non mi importava nulla. La trama, che inizia più o meno a metà libro, è poi vista e rivista e la cosa neanche mi disturberebbe tanto se non fosse che i diffetti si accumulano fino a sovrastare i pregi. Insomma, so che a molti è piaciuto molto, a me ha prevalentemente annoiato, pur avendolo finito in un paio di giorni.
dylan_tomorrow's review against another edition
Author Gareth L. Powell reading a 15 minutes excerpt from chapters 3 and 4 of "Embers of War" at FantasyCon 2016.
From that bit alone, I am excited to read this in 2018. :)
From that bit alone, I am excited to read this in 2018. :)
mykingdomforacommune's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An interesting book with poor pacing. Interesting mystery and good battle scenes but wouldn't compare it to Banks or any of the space opera greats.
sieskie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
aatiii's review against another edition
3.0
Heavily influenced by Banks’ Culture series but nothing like as good.
rosieclaverton's review against another edition
4.0
[CW: war crimes]
I enjoyed 99% of this book. The characters are well-realised, the setting is vivid, and the speculative elements enhance the plot beautifully.
But one thing really, really bothered me.
There are two instances in this book where there is a graphic, gratuitous description of death that was physically repulsive to me. I’m a doctor - I don’t get squeamish. But this was unnecessary.
One involved the description of how a group of children were murdered. I almost put the book down there, for good. I basically only picked it back up to move past that image in my mind.
I know that war is bad and terrible things happen. But these pieces were so out of step with the rest of the book that they threw me from the narrative and soured the whole experience.
On balance, I would like to read more, but I hope that these “grittier” scenes are omitted next time round.
I enjoyed 99% of this book. The characters are well-realised, the setting is vivid, and the speculative elements enhance the plot beautifully.
But one thing really, really bothered me.
There are two instances in this book where there is a graphic, gratuitous description of death that was physically repulsive to me. I’m a doctor - I don’t get squeamish. But this was unnecessary.
One involved the description of how a group of children were murdered. I almost put the book down there, for good. I basically only picked it back up to move past that image in my mind.
I know that war is bad and terrible things happen. But these pieces were so out of step with the rest of the book that they threw me from the narrative and soured the whole experience.
On balance, I would like to read more, but I hope that these “grittier” scenes are omitted next time round.