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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
The second book in the series really elevated from the first- I feel like I’m familiar with the world and the characters so I’m not as confused haha! And I absolutely love Breq, this book really let her get into all sorts of awkward social situations, which I craving from the first book. Some people said this one doesn’t have enough action/too much like a space opera, but that’s exactly what I like in sci-fi- plots that focus on character interaction, especially when I love a character like Breq.
The plot was also very powerful when discussing colonisation, and oppression by powerful forces. It almost could have got white saviour-y, but then I remembered Breq is from an oppressed background herself, and she has been given power all of a sudden, so is using it to lift up people without it. And bring down the corrupt Raadachi! Such a fucking badass, as her lieutenant says. Can’t wait for the finale.
The plot was also very powerful when discussing colonisation, and oppression by powerful forces. It almost could have got white saviour-y, but then I remembered Breq is from an oppressed background herself, and she has been given power all of a sudden, so is using it to lift up people without it. And bring down the corrupt Raadachi! Such a fucking badass, as her lieutenant says. Can’t wait for the finale.
I liked this almost as much as the first one. It's basically just political intrigue on a space station instead of a planet this time.
I almost quit half way. The previous book implied that this book would be about a civil war with lots of intrigue, but it wasn't about that. It was more of a character sketch and some social justice issues, which were fairly well done, just not the story I thought I would be reading. Again the ending of this story implies a big adventure for the finale, but based on previously undelivered expectations I have no idea what the next book will be like, and if it will be worth it to read.
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This wasn't as mind-blowing and thrilling as the first book, Ancillary Justice, but maybe it's because I'm not a huuuuuge fan of politics when one does not know to what end something happens.
Obviously Breq had some ideas but I felt like a John Watson a lot when reading this book - Sherlock is keeping the clues and solution to the riddle for himself until the very end.
However, the ending of the book (after a somewhat confusing middle part) could make up for it. No clue where this series is going though right now. I would have expected something entirely different.
Well. Still looking forward to #3. Oh and I'm also angry for Seivarden to be not really an important part of the story, I like him!
4 Stars!
Obviously Breq had some ideas but I felt like a John Watson a lot when reading this book - Sherlock is keeping the clues and solution to the riddle for himself until the very end.
However, the ending of the book (after a somewhat confusing middle part) could make up for it. No clue where this series is going though right now. I would have expected something entirely different.
Well. Still looking forward to #3. Oh and I'm also angry for Seivarden to be not really an important part of the story, I like him!
4 Stars!
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It is a very well-constructed universe that I have grown more fond of since the first book, but I would really like some backstory on how this far-future neo-Roman empire came about, and how all these human societies ended up on all these worlds when there are also alien races present in the galaxy.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Ancillary Justice ended with a huge scope of what the possible next plot steps could be, and this sequel narrowed the focus to a much smaller, local dispute (in spite of its more broadly reaching consequences). Though still an engaging read, the contrast was disappointing.
3.5? Super enjoyed the book, but not nearly as exciting as the first. The first book had this lovely exploration of emotions and thought and how the different components of the self unite to make decisions. For tech people -- the protagonist is an Artificial Intelligence who runs as a distributed system -- so the components of the "self" are quite literally partitioned.
This book doesn't add a lot in terms of depth. It's clearly "setup" to stage the ground for a third book -- so there's not a lot to review here, even though it was a fine and fun read. I'll definitely read the third book -- the setting is supper innovative, the characters rock, etc. But this book doesn't have the "wow" factor the first book did in introducing the context/setting, and it also doesn't give an useful story/arc resolution and adventure.
This book doesn't add a lot in terms of depth. It's clearly "setup" to stage the ground for a third book -- so there's not a lot to review here, even though it was a fine and fun read. I'll definitely read the third book -- the setting is supper innovative, the characters rock, etc. But this book doesn't have the "wow" factor the first book did in introducing the context/setting, and it also doesn't give an useful story/arc resolution and adventure.