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marymanor's review against another edition
adventurous
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? N/A
4.0
crimsoncor's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyed the Merchant Prince series back when I read it so was pleased to finally dig into this series. You always know the ideas are going to be top-notch when going into a Stross novel, but you have to wonder if the plot and characters are going to be able to carry those ideas. And I think in this novel he mostly succeeds. Rita's story is compelling and she is surrounded by enough other interesting characters that the ideas and infodumps are well integrated.
bearpolar's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
5.0
yetanotherryan's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
colindalaska's review against another edition
5.0
It's not an easy book to get into to - it's a sequel to a series with multiple timelines, but once the plot gets going I was gripped.
belovedsnail's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.0
Solid science fiction. Waiting to see where it goes in the next book.
oscarhp's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tani's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up because I was in the mood for some science fiction, and because, while I had enjoyed the one other Stross novel I had read, I wanted to see more of his range. My other Stross novel was the first Laundry Files book, which I would consider urban fantasy with horror elements, so I thought his take on science fiction might be interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't overly impressed, and I think part of that is a gap between my expectations and reality. I was expecting big concept science fiction with lots of play on the alternate timelines and worldhopping. I kind of got that, but I got it in the form a near-future setting that is remarkably similar to our own, and a spy novel to boot. I'm not sure that I would have put it so high on my priority list if I had known what I was getting myself into.
I did end up liking the novel, but I'm torn on whether I will want to continue with the series. On the one hand, the ending really sets up the next novel for some interesting material. However, I had a bit of a slog to get there. What if the next book ends up being a slog for me as well? It's a question that I'll have to consider more thoroughly once the second book is actually available.
The best part of this book for me was the main character, Rita. I really liked her a lot. I sympathized with her complete bewilderment at the situation that she finds herself in, and her feeling of entrapment. I was with her in not really trusting any of the people who surrounded her. If I hadn't liked her so much, I might not have finished the book. She was the main bright point for me, and the reason that it's getting 3 stars.
The biggest disappointment was the alternate worlds. I felt like they were too alike. Although they had divergent timelines and some major differences, both felt the same to me. Both were mired in politics and corruption and I didn't feel like either side had any kind of moral high ground or likability. Neither really gave me anything to root for, so I ended the book feeling like both sides were pretty much the same.
I also didn't really care for the emphasis on Miriam's point of view during the middle of the book. It didn't really create any sympathy for her with me, and it honestly bored me. I have not read the prior series, so that was probably part of my problem with her. Perhaps if I knew her from the other books, I would have had more interest in her. As it was, I didn't enjoy my time with her.
The spy aspect of the story was interesting, but felt poorly done. Not on the part of Stross, but on the part of the characters. DHS is pretty incompetent, as far as I can see, and their incompetence caused some real danger for Rita. It kind of left me rooting for a character who's been left with very little agency and few good options, which made me a bit frustrated as I read.
I listened to the audio book of this, and Kate Reading did a very good job indeed. However, I don't think that the book itself was easy to convert to this format. There would be fairly long stretches of 'transcripts,' which are nothing but awkward in audio format. I definitely think I would choose to read the sequel myself, should I decide to do so.
I did end up liking the novel, but I'm torn on whether I will want to continue with the series. On the one hand, the ending really sets up the next novel for some interesting material. However, I had a bit of a slog to get there. What if the next book ends up being a slog for me as well? It's a question that I'll have to consider more thoroughly once the second book is actually available.
The best part of this book for me was the main character, Rita. I really liked her a lot. I sympathized with her complete bewilderment at the situation that she finds herself in, and her feeling of entrapment. I was with her in not really trusting any of the people who surrounded her. If I hadn't liked her so much, I might not have finished the book. She was the main bright point for me, and the reason that it's getting 3 stars.
The biggest disappointment was the alternate worlds. I felt like they were too alike. Although they had divergent timelines and some major differences, both felt the same to me. Both were mired in politics and corruption and I didn't feel like either side had any kind of moral high ground or likability. Neither really gave me anything to root for, so I ended the book feeling like both sides were pretty much the same.
I also didn't really care for the emphasis on Miriam's point of view during the middle of the book. It didn't really create any sympathy for her with me, and it honestly bored me. I have not read the prior series, so that was probably part of my problem with her. Perhaps if I knew her from the other books, I would have had more interest in her. As it was, I didn't enjoy my time with her.
The spy aspect of the story was interesting, but felt poorly done. Not on the part of Stross, but on the part of the characters. DHS is pretty incompetent, as far as I can see, and their incompetence caused some real danger for Rita. It kind of left me rooting for a character who's been left with very little agency and few good options, which made me a bit frustrated as I read.
I listened to the audio book of this, and Kate Reading did a very good job indeed. However, I don't think that the book itself was easy to convert to this format. There would be fairly long stretches of 'transcripts,' which are nothing but awkward in audio format. I definitely think I would choose to read the sequel myself, should I decide to do so.
jismijn's review against another edition
3.0
dit boek speelt zich af in 2020. op een gegeven moment wordt er een wattenstaafje in iemands keel gestoken en Roe v Wade wordt overturned. verder zat de auteur er faliekant naast
stvmln's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
I accidentally started book series at wrong book (this is #7), but now that I have all six prior books worth of context, I can say that this book is truly staggering in scope. An amazing sci-fi spy novel from start to finish.