Scan barcode
petealdin's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not a big fan of series fiction. The only real series that have kept me interested are the Arkady Renko novels by Cruz Smith, the Stainless Steel Rat and the Star Wars novels.
It's probabaly no surprise (to myself) that I can't sustain interest in the Wess'Har novels. By this fourth installment, my attention is wandering. I've picked it up three times to read and put it down again after a few chapters.
Now I've finally finished it, (and the familiar characters, plot and context made for reasonably pleasant reading), but I don't think I'll buy any more in the series. It's probably gone on at least one book too long.
**EDIT DEC 2021 **
I did go on to finish the series and I'm glad I did because the final two books (particularly the last) picked up immensely and gave closure.
It's probabaly no surprise (to myself) that I can't sustain interest in the Wess'Har novels. By this fourth installment, my attention is wandering. I've picked it up three times to read and put it down again after a few chapters.
Now I've finally finished it, (and the familiar characters, plot and context made for reasonably pleasant reading), but I don't think I'll buy any more in the series. It's probably gone on at least one book too long.
**EDIT DEC 2021 **
I did go on to finish the series and I'm glad I did because the final two books (particularly the last) picked up immensely and gave closure.
paradoxically's review against another edition
2.0
Matriarch, I suspect, marks the beginning of my dislike of the Wess'har Wars series. I was mostly ambivalent about it before, somewhat leaning towards "Eh, not all that bad", but this book is large, top heavy, and is really beginning to bog itself down in little things that I just don't care about anymore.
I liked the progression of the first three books in that you slowly go from so-and-so species are good/bad to something a lot more complex with a lot of different moralities being flung around, but it's getting to be a little ridiculous at this stage. It's like every five steps there is a new moral conundrum that can't be solved and only serves to shove hardship on the characters, and I found myself flipping through pages more quickly just to barrel through the book.
And the distribution of the C'naatat is also getting ridiculous by now. I won't go into specifics, but I am rather tired with how it's sort of flung around like a large hammer that just really bores me.
I feel like the book is just getting more complex rather needlessly. I am aware that complexity is a part of life, and I actually liked how things were heading in the first three books, but now it just makes me sigh. The plot is either stagnating or circular, and nothing much ever seems to happen but the same old crises that never really get resolved. It's getting old. I want actual progression in my books, not this wheeling around that never gets anywhere. 2 stars.
I liked the progression of the first three books in that you slowly go from so-and-so species are good/bad to something a lot more complex with a lot of different moralities being flung around, but it's getting to be a little ridiculous at this stage. It's like every five steps there is a new moral conundrum that can't be solved and only serves to shove hardship on the characters, and I found myself flipping through pages more quickly just to barrel through the book.
And the distribution of the C'naatat is also getting ridiculous by now. I won't go into specifics, but I am rather tired with how it's sort of flung around like a large hammer that just really bores me.
I feel like the book is just getting more complex rather needlessly. I am aware that complexity is a part of life, and I actually liked how things were heading in the first three books, but now it just makes me sigh. The plot is either stagnating or circular, and nothing much ever seems to happen but the same old crises that never really get resolved. It's getting old. I want actual progression in my books, not this wheeling around that never gets anywhere. 2 stars.
salamander_snail's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
celiaedf12's review
3.0
I sometimes got a little lost on the Isenj politics and their civil war which results from the intervention of the Eqbas, but otherwise this fourth book in the Wess'har Series was very enjoyable. I loved Shan's developing role as matriarch in her household of two males (Aras and Ade, and their corresponding close relationship as housebrothers). And the Lindsay and Rayat strand of the story is fascinating. It is, however, so complex as to only appeal to those who have read and loved the earlier parts of the series. I probably enjoyed the earlier books in the series more, as the focus has shifted from Shan, but they're still fantastic sci-fi.
Re-read - October 2010
Re-read - October 2010
ericlawton's review
2.0
I didn't finish it, but got 2/3rd way through and got bored. The premise of an overly-powerful micro-organism that could change people of different species who evolved on different planets so they could survive anywhere from the vacuum of space to high pressure under an ocean was a bit much to swallow and the characters were too caricatured for me. I stuck it so long in the hopes that they would develop, but not enough.
Not sure if I should pass it along to friends but I hate to throw things out.
Not sure if I should pass it along to friends but I hate to throw things out.
More...