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rynaissanceenby's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a dramatic, classic sci fi adventure. I say classic because it has all the correct vibes for classic sci fi, but there's really nothing cliche about it. There were almost no plot twists that I saw coming.
The characters were relatable, and their flaws were infuriating in the best way. The one character flaw I didn't really jive with, though, was how Miller thought about Julie. He is supposed to be like 50 and she is supposed to be like 26 or something, and his romantic pinings for her come off as really creepy. Furthermore, this easily could have been fixed by him viewing her more as a daughter figure than a romantic interest.
I appreciated the diversity in the cast. The culture that was developed for people who lived outside of Earth and Mars felt rich and interesting. The author took the time to think about what sorts of things would shape such a culture, and he did a good job of expressing those characteristics in writing. It was a bit frustrating how often the women felt completely outnumbered by men, though. It was used as a plot point, so it made sense why it had to be that way, but I would rather the author find a different point to make, so women could have more equal treatment.
Overall, I think the author put a lot of thought into the science and technology of the universe in a really satisfying way. He's no Andy Weir, but the technology generally passes the first and second glances. He seems to have thought a lot about the implications of life throughout the solar system, and he did a great job bringing that thinking into the book.
The enemies were visceral and unique. Disturbing in the best way.
This book definitely lives up to the label of "space opera," and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
The characters were relatable, and their flaws were infuriating in the best way. The one character flaw I didn't really jive with, though, was how Miller thought about Julie. He is supposed to be like 50 and she is supposed to be like 26 or something, and his romantic pinings for her come off as really creepy. Furthermore, this easily could have been fixed by him viewing her more as a daughter figure than a romantic interest.
I appreciated the diversity in the cast. The culture that was developed for people who lived outside of Earth and Mars felt rich and interesting. The author took the time to think about what sorts of things would shape such a culture, and he did a good job of expressing those characteristics in writing. It was a bit frustrating how often the women felt completely outnumbered by men, though. It was used as a plot point, so it made sense why it had to be that way, but I would rather the author find a different point to make, so women could have more equal treatment.
Overall, I think the author put a lot of thought into the science and technology of the universe in a really satisfying way. He's no Andy Weir, but the technology generally passes the first and second glances. He seems to have thought a lot about the implications of life throughout the solar system, and he did a great job bringing that thinking into the book.
The enemies were visceral and unique. Disturbing in the best way.
This book definitely lives up to the label of "space opera," and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, War, and Xenophobia
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