A review by annette_storybeats
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.5

 I loved this book. It's been a while since I've read a robust, long(ish) sci-fi, so it came along at the right time for me.

The ark-ship, searching for a new home for humans after we messed up the last one, is a well-worn concept. But it is done well, with both predictable and surprising problems caused by our tribal tendencies. The long voyage has the main human characters dealing with ageing at different rates as they are taken in and out of cryo-sleep.

The scenes from the green planet sold this book for me. I'm an aracnaphobe, but I was invested in the evolution of the spiders because there were individuals with relatable but slightly off-kilter personalities. 

And the ending was brilliant.

A strong four-and-a-half stars.