Reviews

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

gwenhwyfar's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.5

I didn't love this. Plot made sense, the setting was cool, story was your straight mystery type which isn't really my thing. Definitely liked the setting more than the story. 

sarahmac03's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

redhawktarheel's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

dcfelk's review against another edition

Was not grabbed by the first couple of chapters. I was annoyed by the style. 

lerat42's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

shankargopal's review against another edition

challenging lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

thalassa_reading's review against another edition

challenging mysterious 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

3.0

I fully expected to love this, and the writing was great but...
The mystery plot worked well enough, I really enjoyed Mossa's Holmes-level deductions and insights and also to some extent her antisocial aloofness. I did not follow the romance, within a day or so Preiti went from happy alone and resentful to be called on by her ex, to mothering sidekick who abandons her own life without a second thought to literally run after the woman she had broken up with previously.

Even more, I didn't get the worldbuilding - there are ominous gas storms continually and the surface is too corrosive for phone lines, but there are pigeons and grasshoppers, and people only wear an "atmoscarf"?? The world is not described in sufficient detail to understand it and doesn't make a lot of sense.

Finally, the science that goes into the villain plot is ludicrous to the point that I feel trolled.

The author has solved the chicken and egg problem, you only need frozen cells to start an ecosystem!

brendankailukaitis's review against another edition

mysterious fast-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

1.75

vaenadal's review against another edition

4.0

I wish this book were a novel rather than a novella, because I wanted to know more about everything! The full backstory of escaping Earth and colonizing Jupiter would be fascinating and the mystery could have unfolded at a better pace (with more room for twists and turns?). But most importantly to me, the relationship between Pleiti and Mossa felt like it had the potential to be really complex, but the layers were only hinted at. Hopefully this series will be long, to make up for the individual entries being short!

catfactory's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

Fun sci-fi mystery