Reviews

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

thebigroomxxl's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

s_sheppard18's review

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5.0

This book left me reeling emotionally, and I absolutely enjoyed every moment of the roller coaster ride Martine took me on. The audiobook narrator, Amy Landon, delivered another stellar performance. She is a joy to listen to. A Desolation Called Peace has all the political intrigue and action of A Memory Called Empire, but amps up the characters' complexities, relationships, and stakes of the conflict so much that my heart was in my throat for the last two hours of the book. I adored how Martine approached writing the
Spoilersex scene with Mahit and Three Seagrass, with Iskander's memory of two emperors simmering in the background
, and the
Spoilerassimilation of Twenty Cicada with the hive mind
. The way Martine tells stories is breathtakingly masterful.

I was surprised by how relatable Eight Antidote was throughout the story, as well. I'm not sure if he was supposed to be relatable, or what that says about my own personality and childhood, but I was rooting for him the entire way! He's definitely a spunky little dude, and I would love to read more about his adolescence and young adulthood as he grows into his role as emperor.

The complexities and depth that Martine imparts to each of her characters is much appreciated and one of the main reasons I have come to love her writing. She doesn't short change anyone, even if they're a child or, ostensibly, a villain. Great pains are taken to flesh out the motivations behind the actions each character takes, and it makes the world incredibly immersive and engaging. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys political space operas, alien encounters, and complex characters.

gorbag's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

4.0

sheridansull's review

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adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

hannahconner's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

fakegamergrill's review

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adventurous reflective

4.5

shellkyle's review

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challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.0

tricapra's review

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3.0

These book always have a predictable arc for me. The first 35-40% I'm super hyped and into it. Love the use of language and the world building. The last half is me always going 'hmm the book is almost over how is anything going to happen in time'. And I guess it does, but it always feels kind of meandering and smaller than I expected? Which is wild considering the scope.

kungfusquirrel's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

davecapp's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective 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

4.75

An exceptional sequel to A Memory of Empire. For any fan of world-building, speculative SF, you’ll love these two books. Arkady Martine has crafted an incredibly complex culture on the brink of discovering their perception of reality, is not what they realized.  The science is credible, the characters well thought out, and the politics are deeply nuanced, which helps tell the story of this societies evolution.  This is not casual SciFi, but if you’re ready for a fulfilling adventure, sit down, strap in, and enjoy.