Scan barcode
dance64's review
3.0
(This was a buddy read, but then my buddy betrayed me and finished before me, so I had to sprint to catch up. XD)
I'm not really sure what my feelings of this book are, to be honest. I definitely felt like the first part dragged and nothing particularly interesting happened, and the second part was just...confusing. It felt like everything was rushed and not fully fleshed out, and there was more than one moment when I had to go back and reread a paragraph. I didn't feel as invested in the story or the characters as I had in the first book, and I even started to severely dislike Callie by the end. Sebastian was an interesting character, but while I didn't necessarily hate the direction his character was going in, I felt like it could have been done differently and more gradually, and fleshed out futher. Also, I had many ideas on how Hypnos was going to play a bigger part in the plot, and none of those ideas is what actually happened. I was taken off guard, but honestly it just made me laugh. And when I'm supposed to be intimidated by these genocidal aliens, I don't think I'm supposed to be laughing.
Overall, this was just okay. It felt really rushed in some places, and dragged out in others. I'm still intrigued enough by the end to want to pick up the third book at some point, but I'm not as enthusiastic as I was when I first started the series.
I'm not really sure what my feelings of this book are, to be honest. I definitely felt like the first part dragged and nothing particularly interesting happened, and the second part was just...confusing. It felt like everything was rushed and not fully fleshed out, and there was more than one moment when I had to go back and reread a paragraph. I didn't feel as invested in the story or the characters as I had in the first book, and I even started to severely dislike Callie by the end. Sebastian was an interesting character, but while I didn't necessarily hate the direction his character was going in, I felt like it could have been done differently and more gradually, and fleshed out futher. Also, I had many ideas on how Hypnos was going to play a bigger part in the plot, and none of those ideas is what actually happened. I was taken off guard, but honestly it just made me laugh. And when I'm supposed to be intimidated by these genocidal aliens, I don't think I'm supposed to be laughing.
Overall, this was just okay. It felt really rushed in some places, and dragged out in others. I'm still intrigued enough by the end to want to pick up the third book at some point, but I'm not as enthusiastic as I was when I first started the series.
bory's review
4.0
A fun little book.
I really like this universe and the characters that inhabit it. The idea of the Dream, while nowhere near unique, is cool and the execution was good.
We did get to learn more about the Axiom, though not as much as I had hoped. The ending felt a bit rushed and, I feel, diminished the Axiom as a threat.
I really like this universe and the characters that inhabit it. The idea of the Dream, while nowhere near unique, is cool and the execution was good.
We did get to learn more about the Axiom, though not as much as I had hoped. The ending felt a bit rushed and, I feel, diminished the Axiom as a threat.
yaburrow's review
4.0
The first half of the book was a bit slow (although it was fun to explore the world of Owain in the Taliesen system and find out more about the church that uses entheogens as its sacraments and cuddle puddles in its rituals).
The second half of the book was very exciting and had another great twist in it that I didn't see coming. Fans of gaming and virtual reality will particularly enjoy this book. There are some really good inside jokes for science fiction aficionados too. I especially liked the Douglas Adams one.
The second half of the book was very exciting and had another great twist in it that I didn't see coming. Fans of gaming and virtual reality will particularly enjoy this book. There are some really good inside jokes for science fiction aficionados too. I especially liked the Douglas Adams one.
robotghostattack's review
4.0
Very fun, satisfying second installment. I loved my time with the crew of the White Raven. I don't feel as though this book was quite as tightly plotted at the first novel, but it was still a heck of a lot of fun!
chukg's review
5.0
These are good, remind me a bit of the [a:Becky Chambers|8389735|Becky Chambers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1494228249p2/8389735.jpg] books, but with a bit more adventure and a little less coziness. Cool far future setting, also there's a character from the 'past' which is a good reason to have to explain details of the setting. Characters are well developed, villains are Evil but there are also human villains who have more complicated motivations.
neilsb's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
elysareadsitall's review
4.0
Great sequel to the first book. I didn't expect this story, and the character development continues to be enjoyable. I can't wait to jump into book 3.
jetsilver's review
1.0
I really enjoyed book one of this series, but this one is about 60% recap and info dump and 30% teeth-grittingly twee banter. The remaining bits of actual story aren't enough to save it.
stephengrahamking's review
4.0
Not quite as strong as the first book, but a solid addition to the tale, with some interesting looks into new corners of the series' universe.
colossal's review
3.0
A straight continuation of the previous book that sadly falters due to a very slow first half followed by a not-particularly-interesting second half with something of a cheat ending. There's more characterization than the first book, and a little bit more flesh on the bones of the ambitious world-building, but overall, this was very medium.
I'm not positive I'll go on to the next one, but the premise sounds interesting.
I'm not positive I'll go on to the next one, but the premise sounds interesting.