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karinlib's review
4.0
Space Opera literary crack, that is all I can say. On to re-reading The Gathering Edge.
04/30/2020: Starting again. Just as good the second time.
06/04/2023: My goal is to re-read the entire series before reading book 26.
04/30/2020: Starting again. Just as good the second time.
06/04/2023: My goal is to re-read the entire series before reading book 26.
mary_soon_lee's review
4.0
This is one of the most recent entries in the long-running, wonderful Liaden Universe. Individually, the books are, at minimum, enjoyable, and, at best, throughly lovely. Collectively, the books have proved an addictive delight. The spacefaring setting is engaging, but the books' great strength are the characters, who have given me great and abiding pleasure.
This particular book builds on what has come before, returning to earlier main characters--including Shan, an old favorite of mine--and introducing or giving more major roles to others, so that Tolly, Hazenthull, and Padi are all fast becoming new favorites. A large part of the book is low-key, the interest arising from caring about the characters, rather than high action. Toward the end, the tension ramps up considerably. There are several parallel threads, at least two of whose themes echo and reinforce each other. I noted nods to the authors Cordwainer Smith and Janet Kagan, in the use of the names Norstrilia and Tocohl. And I enjoyed the book from start to finish. Highly recommended, though this is probably not one of the best entry points into the series. (For those wishing to start with one of the early books, I'd suggest "Conflict of Honors." For those wishing to start with a more recent work, I'd suggest "Necessity's Child.")
3/28/2023: Re-read this. Still a delight.
4 and a half out of five stone stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
This particular book builds on what has come before, returning to earlier main characters--including Shan, an old favorite of mine--and introducing or giving more major roles to others, so that Tolly, Hazenthull, and Padi are all fast becoming new favorites. A large part of the book is low-key, the interest arising from caring about the characters, rather than high action. Toward the end, the tension ramps up considerably. There are several parallel threads, at least two of whose themes echo and reinforce each other. I noted nods to the authors Cordwainer Smith and Janet Kagan, in the use of the names Norstrilia and Tocohl. And I enjoyed the book from start to finish. Highly recommended, though this is probably not one of the best entry points into the series. (For those wishing to start with one of the early books, I'd suggest "Conflict of Honors." For those wishing to start with a more recent work, I'd suggest "Necessity's Child.")
3/28/2023: Re-read this. Still a delight.
4 and a half out of five stone stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
humanignorance's review
1.0
1 star. Unfinished at the end of Chapter 11, page 128, 35% complete. The world-building was poor, there were too many overly detailed, dry specifics of trade, the viewpoints switched too often to allow enough buildup within a section, and I was not invested in the overall plot or characters.
bunrab's review
5.0
i just got the newest book (2018) and realized that due to the crazy couple of years I've had, I had not finished the previous two. so that's what I'm doing now, since this is a series with so much action and so many characters that you really can't miss one and then hope to have any idea of what's going on in the next.
claygirley's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
pedanther's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Torture, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
felinity's review
5.0
Korval is now starting to see some consequences triggered by their somewhat violent departure from Liad, but although this follows on from [b:Dragon Ship|824972|Search for the Dragon Ship (The Secrets Of Droon, #18)|Tony Abbott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435511526l/824972._SX50_.jpg|810735] and the others after [b:Plan B|53849|Plan B|Jonathan Tropper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389053832l/53849._SX50_.jpg|234605], this concentrates on the trading side, spending a little more time with Shan, Priscilla and Padi , now officially Shan's apprentice upon Dutiful Passage.
As a side note, this is one of the rare series I feel compelled to buy. Can't believe I forgot to get this one, but at least I won't have to wait too long till [b:Gathering of Equals|3062336|Living the Dream It's Time! A Chronicle of the Gathering of Equals|Mark Conrad|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1267746733l/3062336._SY75_.jpg|3093242]!
As a side note, this is one of the rare series I feel compelled to buy. Can't believe I forgot to get this one, but at least I won't have to wait too long till [b:Gathering of Equals|3062336|Living the Dream It's Time! A Chronicle of the Gathering of Equals|Mark Conrad|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1267746733l/3062336._SY75_.jpg|3093242]!
marget_orange's review
4.0
As great as I had hoped!
I started to listen to this book when it first came out. I am a long time reader of Sharon Lee's works, and while I love some then others, I will admit to enjoying them all. So I started to listen, and I got somewhat distracted by the intro (first 10% or so?) and. It aside to listen to at a time while I was not frustrated by being lost in Indiana, and traffic jams in Chicago.
I regret that it took this long to come back to the book, as it was a glorious story. I enjoyed it very much. And I have to also admit, one other plus, besides the general greatness of Lee and Millers writing, it lacked being primarily from Theo's point of view. While I acknowledge that their writing with Theo in it is just as fine as all their writing, I do not enjoy Theo. She grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard. This is entirely in me, not a fault of the books or the writing. So I was very happy to have a book without her.
I recommend this book!
I started to listen to this book when it first came out. I am a long time reader of Sharon Lee's works, and while I love some then others, I will admit to enjoying them all. So I started to listen, and I got somewhat distracted by the intro (first 10% or so?) and. It aside to listen to at a time while I was not frustrated by being lost in Indiana, and traffic jams in Chicago.
I regret that it took this long to come back to the book, as it was a glorious story. I enjoyed it very much. And I have to also admit, one other plus, besides the general greatness of Lee and Millers writing, it lacked being primarily from Theo's point of view. While I acknowledge that their writing with Theo in it is just as fine as all their writing, I do not enjoy Theo. She grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard. This is entirely in me, not a fault of the books or the writing. So I was very happy to have a book without her.
I recommend this book!