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shinie's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
donnaratcliff's review
3.0
I found the idea of an amateur sleuth finding themselves surrounded by murder an appealing one and having it set on a space station an added fun element and combined it made me want to read this. I enjoyed it overall, the mystery side was fun the characters were diverse and interesting and I loved some of the humorous descriptions….humans described as ‘wet bags’ will stay with me for awhile, lol!
The pacing or flow of the story didn’t quite work for me though and kept it from being a real page turner. I think it was the flitting back and forth between the characters as they were now and then back to their past.
Overall though it was enjoyable and I will definitely pick up book 2 when it comes out.
The pacing or flow of the story didn’t quite work for me though and kept it from being a real page turner. I think it was the flitting back and forth between the characters as they were now and then back to their past.
Overall though it was enjoyable and I will definitely pick up book 2 when it comes out.
katieinca's review
3.0
Murder mystery in space? By Mur Lafferty, author of [b:Six Wakes|28962996|Six Wakes|Mur Lafferty|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1483175828l/28962996._SY75_.jpg|46869174]? Yes please, of course.
This was too many POV changes, and too many POVs altogether. I think I can recall at least eight. It's too much, especially coupled with how many of those were flashbacks, and how little some of those flashbacks really did for the main story. I loved the idea of this book, and the worldbuilding, and the tone, and will absolutely be here for Midsolar Murders #2. But I'm fervently hoping that now that we've gone though all this setup to establish who Mallory is and how she does what she does, we can have a better story.
This was too many POV changes, and too many POVs altogether. I think I can recall at least eight. It's too much, especially coupled with how many of those were flashbacks, and how little some of those flashbacks really did for the main story. I loved the idea of this book, and the worldbuilding, and the tone, and will absolutely be here for Midsolar Murders #2. But I'm fervently hoping that now that we've gone though all this setup to establish who Mallory is and how she does what she does, we can have a better story.
lynguy1's review
3.0
Mur Lafferty infuses Station Eternity, the first book in the Midsolar Murders series, with danger, murder, a sentient space station, and a great premise - Everywhere Mallory Viridian goes a murder occurs and she has the insight to solve the case. When she gets the opportunity to take refuge on Station Eternity, she thinks the murders will stop if she is only around aliens. Her life is quiet until a shuttle with humans arrives and havoc ensues.
Mallory has become an amateur detective due to her ability to spot key clues overlooked by the experts. To avoid others as much as possible, she became a writer. She’s lonely, depressed, calm, and serious. She loves details, acts on instinct, and can be impulsive. The large number other characters have varying degrees of depth that is revealed slowly throughout the novel, but are nowhere near as developed as Mallory.
The cross between science fiction and mystery as a premise worked well. The main character was relatable, likeable, and it was easy for me to want Mallory to succeed. What a great first sentence! However, the book quickly goes back and forth in time without notice causing one to feel unsettled and disrupting the flow and pacing. These instances are also from different points of view and only slowly reveal what has happened in the past. Despite this, the plot was interesting and complex. Additionally, the variety of aliens on the space station added to the unique world-building. From size to communication capabilities, there was significant diversity among the extraterrestrials.
It was hard to put the book down because there was always something new happening in this story that piqued my interest. Danger, mystery, and some surprising moments are interspersed throughout it along with some action and red herrings. The last fourth of the novel became more of a true page-turner. There was a surprise or two revealed near the end of the book and the main mystery reaches a satisfying conclusion, but there are several loose ends that could be the basis for book two in the series.
Overall, this novel was entertaining and had great world-building. It highlights family drama, political intrigue, secrets, trust, connections, relationships, and acceptance. Exceptional characters and intense fight scenes made this an entertaining read. If you like science fiction and mysteries, then this may be the series for you. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 4, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.48 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Mallory has become an amateur detective due to her ability to spot key clues overlooked by the experts. To avoid others as much as possible, she became a writer. She’s lonely, depressed, calm, and serious. She loves details, acts on instinct, and can be impulsive. The large number other characters have varying degrees of depth that is revealed slowly throughout the novel, but are nowhere near as developed as Mallory.
The cross between science fiction and mystery as a premise worked well. The main character was relatable, likeable, and it was easy for me to want Mallory to succeed. What a great first sentence! However, the book quickly goes back and forth in time without notice causing one to feel unsettled and disrupting the flow and pacing. These instances are also from different points of view and only slowly reveal what has happened in the past. Despite this, the plot was interesting and complex. Additionally, the variety of aliens on the space station added to the unique world-building. From size to communication capabilities, there was significant diversity among the extraterrestrials.
It was hard to put the book down because there was always something new happening in this story that piqued my interest. Danger, mystery, and some surprising moments are interspersed throughout it along with some action and red herrings. The last fourth of the novel became more of a true page-turner. There was a surprise or two revealed near the end of the book and the main mystery reaches a satisfying conclusion, but there are several loose ends that could be the basis for book two in the series.
Overall, this novel was entertaining and had great world-building. It highlights family drama, political intrigue, secrets, trust, connections, relationships, and acceptance. Exceptional characters and intense fight scenes made this an entertaining read. If you like science fiction and mysteries, then this may be the series for you. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 4, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
------------------------------------------
My 3.48 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
go_devils's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jack_iwashyna's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
maddox22's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
af415's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
baronvonwaffle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25