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annahlee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lovelycass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
ielerol's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first. I'd been looking forward to more point-of-view characters than just Kaaro, but this book switches between so many characters that I didn't quite get a good feel for any of them. It's very much a plot-focused story, with a lot happening, but I am a character-centric reader and I just never felt like a I had a good grasp on what everyone's deal was. I like Aminat, but spending time in her head didn't help me understand what she sees in Kaaro any more than seeing it from his perspective in the first book. I mean, not that I dislike him, but even when Aminat is thinking about him, her inner monologue is basically "here's all the things that suck about him, but I just love him so much anyway!" I mean, sure, that happens in the real world plenty, it's just not very narratively satisfying.
The character I think we spend the most time really getting into the mindset and inner life is Alyssa, who is necessarily a difficult person to relate to and understand. I would have liked more time with her and less short flashes of time with Walter or Eric (or the excerpts from Walter's novel? Which in basic writing style felt exactly like Rosewater Insurrection and I'm not sure I get what they were supposed to add) that ultimately felt like distractions, or that asshole whose name I have already forgotten who turned into the plant. I get that we might need to see a scene of the plant-person's origins, but he was gross and I just don't know why we spent as much time as we did learning about this random asshole whose asshole perspective didn't matter to anything.
Still, middle books of trilogies are difficult, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all resolves.
The character I think we spend the most time really getting into the mindset and inner life is Alyssa, who is necessarily a difficult person to relate to and understand. I would have liked more time with her and less short flashes of time with Walter or Eric (or the excerpts from Walter's novel? Which in basic writing style felt exactly like Rosewater Insurrection and I'm not sure I get what they were supposed to add) that ultimately felt like distractions, or that asshole whose name I have already forgotten who turned into the plant. I get that we might need to see a scene of the plant-person's origins, but he was gross and I just don't know why we spent as much time as we did learning about this random asshole whose asshole perspective didn't matter to anything.
Still, middle books of trilogies are difficult, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all resolves.
alexandra296's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one has a lot of POVs, mixed between 1st and 3rd person. Overall well written, though in some parts a little repetitive/cliched? Dialogue is a mixed bag, some bits I really liked, some were funny and others not so much.
The world set up in the series is pretty cool and well described, and I think the setting is well used in terms of progressing the plot. It also makes up for some of the more cliche aspects of the story. The use of both the alien aspects and the Nigerian setting are well done and merged nicely. Some of the aliens were more interesting than others. Thompson is good at describing the setting in a way that is pretty natural and not infodumpy, except when briefly recapping the previous book (which I guess is a neccessity).
We have several plot points concurrently, including an amnesia subplot which I felt kind of ambivalent about, a political/power struggle one which was the main driver and I liked a bit more.
Good cast of characters, including a few very brief POVs. I think Kaaro feels a tad overpowered and occasionally a little on the cliche action hero side but he's an interesting protagonist
I enjoyed Aminat as a character though some of her plot arc felt kinda dropped (dunno if it'll be picked up later in the series). Jack drove this story along and I think for the most part he was well written and had an interesting arc. (Also liked Walter's chapter that was written like a book A LOT, very moving and an interesting tonal shift).
There's nothing super stand out here for me emotionally or that will really stick with me but it was a fun read, and has a unique setting/cast of characters.
The world set up in the series is pretty cool and well described, and I think the setting is well used in terms of progressing the plot. It also makes up for some of the more cliche aspects of the story. The use of both the alien aspects and the Nigerian setting are well done and merged nicely. Some of the aliens were more interesting than others. Thompson is good at describing the setting in a way that is pretty natural and not infodumpy, except when briefly recapping the previous book (which I guess is a neccessity).
We have several plot points concurrently, including an amnesia subplot which I felt kind of ambivalent about, a political/power struggle one which was the main driver and I liked a bit more.
Good cast of characters, including a few very brief POVs. I think Kaaro feels a tad overpowered and occasionally a little on the cliche action hero side but he's an interesting protagonist
I enjoyed Aminat as a character though some of her plot arc felt kinda dropped (dunno if it'll be picked up later in the series). Jack drove this story along and I think for the most part he was well written and had an interesting arc. (Also liked Walter's chapter that was written like a book A LOT, very moving and an interesting tonal shift).
There's nothing super stand out here for me emotionally or that will really stick with me but it was a fun read, and has a unique setting/cast of characters.
marisatn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.75
daniellesalwaysreading's review against another edition
4.0
I love the worldbuilding and the characters. The plot, which I am usually all about, isn't as important to me here, but I did still really like it. I listened to the audio and I really love the reader. I am looking forward to the final installment.
hay_shock's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book more than the first one, probably due to having more characters to follow, and because I connected more with the main characters. I even felt I had more sympathy and connection for Kaaro in this book, I think being less in his head, really helps.
Storytelling - I enjoy jumping from person & story point, it keeps a quick pace, but stops the story from moving too quickly. There are elements where I got confused following conversations, and couldn't quite figure out which statement was from which character. That only really happened a few times throughout the book.
Characters - I feel like there was quite a lot of character development in this book, or maybe it's that there were two-three key characters some of which I connected more with, compared to just the main one in the first book. I really enjoyed getting to know Aminat more, she was someone I could personally connect to and feel for a little more.
World Building - I think the world building is one of my favourite things about this series. The world the story is based in seems so out there, and its constantly changing, growing. I think in this book there were a few elements that weren't really explained, so perhaps not as thought through. However I still thoroughly enjoyed all elements of the world.
Storytelling - I enjoy jumping from person & story point, it keeps a quick pace, but stops the story from moving too quickly. There are elements where I got confused following conversations, and couldn't quite figure out which statement was from which character. That only really happened a few times throughout the book.
Characters - I feel like there was quite a lot of character development in this book, or maybe it's that there were two-three key characters some of which I connected more with, compared to just the main one in the first book. I really enjoyed getting to know Aminat more, she was someone I could personally connect to and feel for a little more.
World Building - I think the world building is one of my favourite things about this series. The world the story is based in seems so out there, and its constantly changing, growing. I think in this book there were a few elements that weren't really explained, so perhaps not as thought through. However I still thoroughly enjoyed all elements of the world.
joshualeggs's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
newwaystodream's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
karaswils's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0