Reviews

Exordia by Seth Dickinson

runefh's review

slow-paced

4.0

blherrou's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious 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

3.75

Very interesting premise. Features one character with some key similarities to Baru Cormorant from his other series, plus a pair of others who seem to be represent the tension between utilitarian and deontological ethics. Good, but a bit long. 

wombat_reads's review

Бодрое начало, а потом диванная философия, политика и уныние

theblueforest's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

seth you were insane for this

rozecrest's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

truly, exordia earns the title juggernaut. as always i am enchanted by the characters and relationships in seth dickinson novels. chayali butchfemme at the end of the world you will always always be famous. clayton-erik-rosamaria legendary bisexual triangle. anna and khaje. serendure -- speaking of, the cultural worldbuilding for the khai is so incredibly sharp and cool!

it was very good at explaining and unraveling the mysteries of blackbird and taking me through math and physics concepts that were unknown to me before -- doing so in a way that kept me engaged and interested when historically i am not these branches biggest fans. that whole middle section of forces converging on tawakul juggled a whole lot of characters and events and i never felt like i was losing the thread, or losing investment, or getting lost in the shifting pacing. just great concept exploration and themes... 

this book sets out to horrify, to delight, to grip you. this story took me somewhere, well and truly transported me. it made me fear the end, and took me past it. life doesn't end when the word does, if people are still alive then there will still be hope and resistance and sex and despair and all the things that humanity clings onto. nothing you can do about the end but keep living. bahala na!

nightstitch96's review against another edition

I could see the potential but ultimately wasn't for me

zeuxine's review

5.0

! I’m obsessed with dickinson. I’m definitely the type of person who can picture a book in my head like a movie but there is smth about the way Dickinson writes that is just…super cinematic To Me. Like I think about the flag scene from baru book 1 all the time (iykyk!!). 

Everything was so vivid- from the landscapes to the body horror !!! Lots of interesting questions about god as per usual and about pragmatism which tbh I’ve never thought about before….

Did I understand all of the physics? No. But tbh I think the gist was more important.  The pacing kind of drags a little in the middle of the book but idk I loved it. I feel like the ending was open ended ?

was ssrin talking about her sister???

. Anyway. Loved it. 

eagoldberg's review

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

Seth Dickinson was already my favorite Fantasy writer. Now Dickinson is my favorite SF writer, too. Chilling and gut-wrenching and heartfelt. Like my favorite childhood book series (which Exordia gives a nod to!) but written for grown-ups. Truly unforgettable.

hannahzee's review

adventurous challenging tense fast-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

inaworldoftrees's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

5.0

Honestly a science-fiction horror masterpiece.  I loved it.  Aliens, eyeballs, politics; and the characters!  Dickinson's character writing has always been phenomenal and this book did not disappoint.  They are somehow able to reach into their characters' brains and pull out and express each personality and how it was shaped absolutely beautifully.  I will be buying this book once it comes out in tradeback form.