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maggie6832's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, character development, relationship between Cheris and Jedao, and the slow uncovering of a secret plot. This definitely isn’t a book that holds your hand - the math and logistics of the hexarchate and formations do take awhile to figure out. It’s also very much a military space opera book, and while I appreciate the acknowledgement of the brutal reality of war and terrible calculations that the hexarchate must make to maintain itself, the graphic depictions of violence and mass casualties are rough.
mamoru's review
3.0
Yikes...If you've ever had a toddler explain something to you, then you know the feeling of wanting them to get to the point faster, so you can escape their annoying rant. You also know that a toddler with tell you absolutely nothing while talking continuously.
That's what this book feels like.
I was so innocent when I first started this book. So much hope. I enjoy Yoon Ha Lee's writing so I happily ignored all the red flags. Welcome to a world where nothing is explained, characters show up once and then vanish, the magic system is "whatever the author needs to happen will happen" (this is magic but in outer space), and all the built-up leads to an extremely disappointing and underwhelming resolution. A resolution that, you guessed it, makes no sense and only leaves you with more questions.
So why am I giving it three stars? Because I have never read anything like this in my life. Because the magic system is incredibly original and interesting. Because YHL's writing calls to me like a hissing cat that I know I shouldn't pet but I still want to. I love his writing and, so, I will listen to him rant like a toddler and make no sense because even though the toddler is annoying, he's also adorable.
Make sure you don't go into this without checking the content warnings since this book is very violent. Very. Violent.
A few content warnings come to mind: suicide (LOTS OF IT), attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, rape, torture, gore, military abuse, graphic descriptions of torture, mass weapon, mass killing, racism, sexism, ableism, lack of consent, mental illness used as an insult.
That's what this book feels like.
I was so innocent when I first started this book. So much hope. I enjoy Yoon Ha Lee's writing so I happily ignored all the red flags. Welcome to a world where nothing is explained, characters show up once and then vanish, the magic system is "whatever the author needs to happen will happen" (this is magic but in outer space), and all the built-up leads to an extremely disappointing and underwhelming resolution. A resolution that, you guessed it, makes no sense and only leaves you with more questions.
So why am I giving it three stars? Because I have never read anything like this in my life. Because the magic system is incredibly original and interesting. Because YHL's writing calls to me like a hissing cat that I know I shouldn't pet but I still want to. I love his writing and, so, I will listen to him rant like a toddler and make no sense because even though the toddler is annoying, he's also adorable.
Make sure you don't go into this without checking the content warnings since this book is very violent. Very. Violent.
A few content warnings come to mind: suicide (LOTS OF IT), attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, rape, torture, gore, military abuse, graphic descriptions of torture, mass weapon, mass killing, racism, sexism, ableism, lack of consent, mental illness used as an insult.
pkiwi's review
3.0
I'm still a little on the fence about this book. It's not very long and concentrates almost entirely on one space battle. The book shines at the depiction of (political) social manipulation. However, I also came away thinking it was a little shallow and not, perhaps, as well thought through as it might have been. The magic/tech system rooted in observance of calendars and feast days was wonderfully innovative. But my biggest peeve was that I couldn't grasp the "stakes" of system, so most of the battles were quite boring.
It wasn't a bad read and a liked the ideas, but it never gave me the ah-moment I was waiting for.
It wasn't a bad read and a liked the ideas, but it never gave me the ah-moment I was waiting for.
maddie_reads_stuff's review
4.0
Taking away people's names denied their power, a lesson Cheris tried not to think about."
This book is definitely smarter than I am, but I did enjoy the overall plot and universe-building.
This book is definitely smarter than I am, but I did enjoy the overall plot and universe-building.
baldwinme40's review
3.0
im not built for tough slogs like this especially for gory military books. well written story for sure - "what is this guys deal" is an intriguing enough question to keep reading. not my jam overall but cool!
readingunderthecovers's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katieinca's review
3.0
Glad I read it, but wow the worldbuilding was an uphill slog for me, well past the halfway point of the book. Admittedly, space warfare stuff is not my favorite, but I do read and enjoy it occasionally. I enjoyed... bits of this. But the way this science/magic system was written just really bogged me down. If you're spending a lot of page real estate talking about this system I should be able to understand it better. If it's all just mood setting hand waving, find a way for it to be less distracting.
crimsoncor's review
5.0
Terrific world-building and a really fun concept (until you start to think too hard about the horrific world that actually exists under the hexarch). Like super-evil Harry Potter candidate sorting. The story plays out in a way that is both predictable (as main POV character is directing most things) and very unpredictable. This is also made more interesting with the bicameral nature of the main character and the fact that half is very unpredictable, so you have to consider them an unreliable narrator. And who doesn't love them some droids (I mean servitors).
samkb's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0