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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the Lady Astronaut series, and this promised to be like that with a little less hard science, so I was eager to pick it up. But I didn’t like it at all.
It’s a “cozy mystery”. Kind of like Death on the Nile or some other old-timey Sam Spade detective novel. Reading was frustrating because I kept waiting for them to get to the next uncovered clue. It always seemed like the story was padding itself in-between plot points, which was frustrating. Like the book itself was practicing delayed gratification. And in the last chapter, it’s like the characters don’t even care that they went through all this trauma. They’re not changed.
The text. Is. Repetitive. And it’s repetitive over two things. One is that the main character has a back injury and she’s constantly talking about her chronic pain. Every page she’s turning up or down the “pain management system” she’s got implanted. By the end, she must look like all the Rolling Stones AND Motley Crue put together.
The other thing is that she is on a honeymoon cruise with her husband (who’s an actual detective but he’s the suspect). And they are so lovey-dovey with each other I think I got a cavity. It’s obnoxious. This girl is high maintenance. She always needs her dog with her, she’s always suffering from PTSD. But I’m not the audience for this book. I almost stopped reading a few times, but I kept going because I thought it might be like Terraforming Romance. I was very glad when it was done. At least, I don’t have to like it to use it as a comp.
It’s a “cozy mystery”. Kind of like Death on the Nile or some other old-timey Sam Spade detective novel. Reading was frustrating because I kept waiting for them to get to the next uncovered clue. It always seemed like the story was padding itself in-between plot points, which was frustrating. Like the book itself was practicing delayed gratification. And in the last chapter, it’s like the characters don’t even care that they went through all this trauma. They’re not changed.
The text. Is. Repetitive. And it’s repetitive over two things. One is that the main character has a back injury and she’s constantly talking about her chronic pain. Every page she’s turning up or down the “pain management system” she’s got implanted. By the end, she must look like all the Rolling Stones AND Motley Crue put together.
The other thing is that she is on a honeymoon cruise with her husband (who’s an actual detective but he’s the suspect). And they are so lovey-dovey with each other I think I got a cavity. It’s obnoxious. This girl is high maintenance. She always needs her dog with her, she’s always suffering from PTSD. But I’m not the audience for this book. I almost stopped reading a few times, but I kept going because I thought it might be like Terraforming Romance. I was very glad when it was done. At least, I don’t have to like it to use it as a comp.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a big fan of Kowal's Lady Astronaut series (albeit not really a fan of the name the series has been given, but I understand it fits with the time period being portrayed), and since she hasn't been kind enough to offer the next book in that sequence yet, figured I'd try another one of her offerings. The sci-fi aspects are really great, she does really good work buttoning down her science. I even had some questions (and I'm NOT a scientist) but she included a brief explanation in her afterward that settled things quite well. The only reason The Spare Man falls short of four stars is because I'm not really big on the murder-mystery genre. Kowal writes well, and the story and characters are more than engaging. The mystery is plenty mysterious, with some good twists and turns along the way. I'm not enamored of the drinking culture depicted. I find it somewhat ironic that Kowal says in the afterword that she's not a drinker, but every chapter opens with a cocktail recipe, and the social lives of every character revolves heavily on alcohol. I was able to take it as it was and enjoy the story overall. I really hope my fourth Lady Astronaut book is forthcoming though.
I kept hearing good things about this and while the Lady Astronaut series hasn't quite floated my boat, this really does. A fine murder mystery whodunnit wrapped up in science fiction trappings, riffing on the book and expanded film series, The Thin Man.
It's an interesting challenge in the current climate, to set the main character as a member of the ultrarich elite. Sympathy towards Tesla is strained at times and Kowal treads a fine balance between how much her privilege is brandished as a weapon versus her being consciously aware of it or called out on it. Brave choices (obviously again, riffing on the above) and it generally works.
Likewise, the constant talk on alcohol personally wore on me a little. Clearly advanced future civilisations haven't managed to curtail harmful drinking. Still, the brief afterword discussing cocktails was thoughtful and reframed things a little for me.
The depictions of Tesla's chronic pain is another huge aspect of the character. It's handled brilliantly, never letting you forget this is a constant experience for her, never gone, never not factoring into any decision or movement she makes. It's exhausting, just like real life.
There are some many great aspects to this story and it's highly enjoyable, with an engaging group of characters and a satisfying ending (which I hadn't guessed). I'm keen to read more of their adventures in the future if they get written.
It's an interesting challenge in the current climate, to set the main character as a member of the ultrarich elite. Sympathy towards Tesla is strained at times and Kowal treads a fine balance between how much her privilege is brandished as a weapon versus her being consciously aware of it or called out on it. Brave choices (obviously again, riffing on the above) and it generally works.
Likewise, the constant talk on alcohol personally wore on me a little. Clearly advanced future civilisations haven't managed to curtail harmful drinking. Still, the brief afterword discussing cocktails was thoughtful and reframed things a little for me.
The depictions of Tesla's chronic pain is another huge aspect of the character. It's handled brilliantly, never letting you forget this is a constant experience for her, never gone, never not factoring into any decision or movement she makes. It's exhausting, just like real life.
There are some many great aspects to this story and it's highly enjoyable, with an engaging group of characters and a satisfying ending (which I hadn't guessed). I'm keen to read more of their adventures in the future if they get written.
Wowee this was so much fun! I LOVED all the diverse rep -- queernorm! disability! service dog! -- and was sucked in by the fast-paced sleuthing. The ending felt a little rushed to me and there were still some loose threads I wanted tied up, but overall it was immensely enjoyable.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Some interesting ideas, but ultimately a detective story where the main character is an unlikable billionaire Space Karen who uses her money and expensive lawyer at every chance. Readability is also completely hampered by awkward use of they/them until the characters pronouns are announced (and even sometimes after they've been announced), which makes the story tricky to follow at times.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated