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curiouslyjade's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable and original sci-fi read -- actually unapologetically sci-fi-y. I want to do a second read to catch the details I missed the first time around.
amblygon_writes's review against another edition
5.0
Fun, unique, well written! This book is exciting, and I loved the unique main character. I also really liked the fact that not everything was clear from the start, and the world slowly unraveled. I can't wait to read more! The exploration of culture and the approach to gender were fresh and interesting. (Despite knowing a language that uses gender neutral pronouns, it was still a bit confusing - but I love the challenge to how we think about gender in English).
taytots24's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Very creative concept, and a very well developed world. My only hang up was that the audiobook was kind of hard to follow (in my situation - I.e. in the background while doing chores and chasing a toddler). The narrator’s difficulty in identifying people’s gender was a clever and honestly brilliant device, but with my not being able to focus, I had a harder time keeping track of the side characters. This book deserves a re-read in about 5 years - I’m guessing my rating will improve significantly when I can give this book the attention it deserves.
jazjaz's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
morkskittar's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tddrdfrd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kivt's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this book with very little idea what it was about, and I was wonderfully surprised by how good it was. Leckie does an exemplary job of building a world with small details, revealed incidentally while telling a compelling story.
Some reviewers found the treatment of gender to be confusing, which I understand. I felt that my confusion prompted me to read closer, and to more honestly engage my own preconceptions in an attempt to distinguish what I brought to the book & projected on the characters from what the book itself presented. It was both fun and rewarding, which is rare and should be celebrated!
A lot of otherwise really good sci-fi and fantasy novels just totally fall apart at the climax, but this one stayed coherent and internally consistent. The ending was satisfying and gave closure to the current story while laying ground for a promising sequel. Just a solid read all the way through!
Some reviewers found the treatment of gender to be confusing, which I understand. I felt that my confusion prompted me to read closer, and to more honestly engage my own preconceptions in an attempt to distinguish what I brought to the book & projected on the characters from what the book itself presented. It was both fun and rewarding, which is rare and should be celebrated!
A lot of otherwise really good sci-fi and fantasy novels just totally fall apart at the climax, but this one stayed coherent and internally consistent. The ending was satisfying and gave closure to the current story while laying ground for a promising sequel. Just a solid read all the way through!
falconer24's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Genocide, and Colonisation
slawler's review against another edition
5.0
This one makes you think. It took me a few chapters to wrap my head around the narration and figure out how things lined up, and by then I was hooked.
It was both slow-paced, thoughtful, philosophical, and also intense, emotional, and gripping. The sort of thing to think about for a while and have some good pithy conversations about.
I really loved how the near-omniscient AI narrator was characterized. Very relatable, yet not quite human. I also liked the interplay of religion and tech. The world of futuristic space conquest juxtaposed with a very religious and superstitious culture was thought provoking.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
It was both slow-paced, thoughtful, philosophical, and also intense, emotional, and gripping. The sort of thing to think about for a while and have some good pithy conversations about.
I really loved how the near-omniscient AI narrator was characterized. Very relatable, yet not quite human. I also liked the interplay of religion and tech. The world of futuristic space conquest juxtaposed with a very religious and superstitious culture was thought provoking.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
gmco's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-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