Reviews

Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

This book counts towards the Reading Women 2019 Challenge task #16:A book by an Indigenous woman

more later...

jkreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

laurencoff's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

effinalice's review

medium-paced

I've had a few reads lately that I am unsure about. Terra Nullius fits into this category. For that reason I will abstain from giving it a rating at this point in time and instead talk about the reasons I think it's an important book to read. 

Terra Nullius is Claire Coleman's debut novel. It is a speculative fiction work that shed's light onto the enslavement of Aboriginal people in Australia. The beginning does read more like a historical fiction novel. I actually forgot that this was a speculative fiction book until the author cleverly reveals an important detail. I am being vague here as to not spoil the plot. 

As it is a debut novel the writing is clunky. Parts of it feel over written. The prose is clunky at best. It is repetitive and not in a good way. Even through these issues I continued reading because it is a compelling story and an important narrative that I don't hear discusses often.

For those of you participating in the r/fantasy bingo, Terra Nullius has more than 5 POVs and it is also a story about survivial. 

emilysummer_'s review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

elys3's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Conceptionally interesting but struggled with execution. Still a promising first novel from the author. 

The fact that aliens turned Australia into a prison colony again is so funny

nedge's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

michelle_reads_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

syllareads's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

llovac's review

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

3.5