Scan barcode
max341q132543253's review against another edition
2.0
Wait, what?
The first two books were light fun and the plot moved fast. Admittedly I didn't care that much about the characters but I appreciated the dialogue and clever intrigue.
Here, the first 100 pages of this 300 page book felt like nothing but recapping and the next 60 still contained a lot. The number of pages left was dwindling fast, mostly gone, and it still felt like the book had barely started. Anything non-recapping was mostly telling-not-showing, with long paragraphs with zero dialogue or sensory immediacy, summarizing a character's boring behaviour over days or weeks (not really clear), often with literal lists that felt like chores to read through.
New plot finally happened in the last third but it was too little, too late. I won't give away the ending but it left me more annoyed than satisfied. Even the author didn't seem to care that much about how things turned out. In the acknowledgements he acknowledged that he rushed the whole book, doing it at the last minute like a teenager. A shame because the first two books were really good. Not sure I'd read more of his work.
The first two books were light fun and the plot moved fast. Admittedly I didn't care that much about the characters but I appreciated the dialogue and clever intrigue.
Here, the first 100 pages of this 300 page book felt like nothing but recapping and the next 60 still contained a lot. The number of pages left was dwindling fast, mostly gone, and it still felt like the book had barely started. Anything non-recapping was mostly telling-not-showing, with long paragraphs with zero dialogue or sensory immediacy, summarizing a character's boring behaviour over days or weeks (not really clear), often with literal lists that felt like chores to read through.
New plot finally happened in the last third but it was too little, too late. I won't give away the ending but it left me more annoyed than satisfied. Even the author didn't seem to care that much about how things turned out. In the acknowledgements he acknowledged that he rushed the whole book, doing it at the last minute like a teenager. A shame because the first two books were really good. Not sure I'd read more of his work.
duhwhoareyou's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
regalwater's review against another edition
5.0
In this book more so than the first one, I was more aware of how this book has been influenced by what’s come before and how likely it has influenced other works since. There is a lot of exposition, but I enjoyed it (I’m slow, please explain the back stabbing) and it set up the twists and turns of the novel in a fun way. I came away from book 1 wondering if the character voices were distinct enough and by the end of Fire I was pleased to see how each (surviving) character has evolved as taken their place in the story. I love Cardenia’s progress and how she grows more confident in how she’s stirring shit up.
Most importantly, though, this book really made me laugh and I need that right now!
Most importantly, though, this book really made me laugh and I need that right now!
jessln23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
krislm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
logistical's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
vaenadal's review against another edition
5.0
A satisfying ending to a great political thriller/space opera trilogy!
odin45mp's review against another edition
5.0
Scalzi stuck the landing on this one.
The plots and machinations set up in the first two books come to a head as the stakes continue to escalate. I love Kiva Lagos SO MUCH, she is awesome. I also love Cardenia Wu-Patrick, and how her compassion and love of Lord Marce (and pie) humanize her and make her the leader that I wish we had here in our present day and time. And Nadashe is a great villain that we all love to hate. Scalzi made me almost throw my book across the room when (spoiler) happened - this is on a short list of books for me that almost went flying due to my visceral reaction to what just happened in them. This is the third in a trilogy so either you're already here for the ride, or you should start at the start, but let me tell you - The Interdependency may be Scalzi's best work to date, and is deserving of the reviews and awards it has garnered. The audiobook performance by Wil Wheaton is also top notch, and his accents and voices are a delight to hear.
Definitely worth a read, or two. (I immediately reread as an audiobook after finishing my hardcover. Yes I enjoyed it that much!)
The plots and machinations set up in the first two books come to a head as the stakes continue to escalate. I love Kiva Lagos SO MUCH, she is awesome. I also love Cardenia Wu-Patrick, and how her compassion and love of Lord Marce (and pie) humanize her and make her the leader that I wish we had here in our present day and time. And Nadashe is a great villain that we all love to hate. Scalzi made me almost throw my book across the room when (spoiler) happened - this is on a short list of books for me that almost went flying due to my visceral reaction to what just happened in them. This is the third in a trilogy so either you're already here for the ride, or you should start at the start, but let me tell you - The Interdependency may be Scalzi's best work to date, and is deserving of the reviews and awards it has garnered. The audiobook performance by Wil Wheaton is also top notch, and his accents and voices are a delight to hear.
Definitely worth a read, or two. (I immediately reread as an audiobook after finishing my hardcover. Yes I enjoyed it that much!)