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odunayo_y's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Thank You to Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC
A very strong sci-fi debut, the prose and overall writing was tight. Despite being an ARC I didn’t notice any typographical errors. The characters were all interesting amd compelling in their own ways. But it seems I’m a black sheep in reviews as i HATED Esek, i get that she’s meant to be awful but gyatt dam she was grating. Lol and i was kicking my feet when Esek starts having a Bad Time.
I will say that the characters being ultra talented Badasses as teenagers was giving a bit YA lol. Like no a 16 year old is not going to be a galactic level mastermind. But other than that it was great!
I did enjoy that Esek & Chono’s relationship was purely platonic.
Another aspect I appreciated was how religion and religious people were treated. It was good to see Chono not be denigrated by the narrative for her beliefs. While still being realistic that there are people and institutions who cynically use the veneer of religion to justify their actions or hold onto power.
A very strong sci-fi debut, the prose and overall writing was tight. Despite being an ARC I didn’t notice any typographical errors. The characters were all interesting amd compelling in their own ways. But it seems I’m a black sheep in reviews as i HATED Esek, i get that she’s meant to be awful but gyatt dam she was grating. Lol and i was kicking my feet when Esek starts having a Bad Time.
I will say that the characters being ultra talented Badasses as teenagers was giving a bit YA lol. Like no a 16 year old is not going to be a galactic level mastermind. But other than that it was great!
I did enjoy that Esek & Chono’s relationship was purely platonic.
Another aspect I appreciated was how religion and religious people were treated. It was good to see Chono not be denigrated by the narrative for her beliefs. While still being realistic that there are people and institutions who cynically use the veneer of religion to justify their actions or hold onto power.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Genocide
Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
brekaboujie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
This book was SO GOOD. Brilliantly captivating, so rich and full of depth, I was completely drawn in to this universe.
I've really foubd a love for sci fi over the laat few years and this was a perfect example of what I really love about the genre when it's done right!!!!! This was a particularly interesting one with a focus on politics and power structures over the more people and cultures centred vibes of Becky Chambers who I also love. This was also so DARK and very violent at times but I was honestly lapping it all up. Multiple instances of me sat on the train hand over my mouth in disbelief. Delicious.
Also can I just talk about that tWIST AT THE END. Look, I read books pretty mindlessly and don't tend to try and work out the plot, I like to let it unravel with time. And the UNRAVELLING. That chapter of 1663 just was SO BRILLIANTLY DONE and made me question everything I'd read!!!! I was suddenly going back and thinking wait, who's perspective has it been from??? Surely we have had her perspective in 1664. BUT NOPE JUST GENIUS TRICKERY such clever writing! Especially as this is the first book so we don't have any preconceptions about Esek, so everything together just makes one picture and then BAM you realise it wasn't one picture at all!!! I honestly kind of want to go back and reread it just to see if there are any hints placed throughout the 1664 chapters. Just so interesting!!!!!
I am very excited by this being a series, I cannot wait to read more of this universe. Going to be recommending this one a lot!!!!
I've really foubd a love for sci fi over the laat few years and this was a perfect example of what I really love about the genre when it's done right!!!!! This was a particularly interesting one with a focus on politics and power structures over the more people and cultures centred vibes of Becky Chambers who I also love. This was also so DARK and very violent at times but I was honestly lapping it all up. Multiple instances of me sat on the train hand over my mouth in disbelief. Delicious.
Also can I just talk about that
I am very excited by this being a series, I cannot wait to read more of this universe. Going to be recommending this one a lot!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Overall, mostly violence and gore warnings. Gun fights, injuries, lots of blood, and some pretty gnarly descriptions of using knives to harm or kill people. There is one short and pretty low key sex scene, and multiple mentions of sex including reference to a young person (I think underage? Vulnerable at least) being sold against their will for sex. This is brought up/referenced a few times but never mentioned in any detail apart from (I think you could view it this way) one instance of the victim remembering it, but not graphically.bookgrrl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
5.0
So this book at heart is basically a cat and mouse quest. Esek & Chono are hunting the thief Jun…they’ve also been hunting Six for a couple decades. But this book is anything but simple. There is so much detail, both with the chase itself, but also with the characters and their motivations. It’s also jumping back-and-forth in time for each chapter, which took a little getting used to, but I think it works for this story. The world building was really fascinating. The ruling class are essentially religious figures, and yet they are also assassins, criminals, hypocrites, and corrupt (hmmm, might be some correlation there 😉). I really enjoyed Chono, but Esek is a straight up psychopath.
There’s a huge twist in the last third of the book that just had me screaming “WHAT?!” I am already really looking forward to re-reading this book so I can pick up on more of the details and nuances that made the story so great.
Thank you to NetGalley & Orbit Books for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
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