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kayciedoom's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caitgriff's review
4.0
I’m always telling people who don’t read science fiction that it’s not just space ships and aliens and Star Wars (no shade), but that good science fiction tackles larger stories of humanity. But maybe in space.
The Sol Majestic is one of the best examples I’ve unearthed of a science fiction novel that just feels like a social commentary set in space. The main character’s arc provides a stark look at the consequences of staggering socioeconomic inequity, the tensions between familial loyalty and moral courage, and how we become our truest selves under fire.
Crumbling under the pressure to revive his parents’ dying religion by “realizing” his cut and dry purpose in life (called his “Inevitable Philosophy”), the protagonist, Kenna, stumbles into the head chef and owner of the Sol Majestic, the most famous restaurant in the galaxy. After a life of asceticism, Kenna discovers food, and tries to balance his parents expectations with the new types of love he’s discovering at the Majestic, including the romantic love he bears towards another young man, an indentured servant in the kitchen, Benzo.
The passages describing food are the most evocative in the book, with the ability to make you crave chicken broth, grilled cheese, and oily noodles. The writing is terrific, and the book only really struggles with consistent pacing in the middle third but is a great 4/5 read for me. #SimilarBooks include This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
The Sol Majestic is one of the best examples I’ve unearthed of a science fiction novel that just feels like a social commentary set in space. The main character’s arc provides a stark look at the consequences of staggering socioeconomic inequity, the tensions between familial loyalty and moral courage, and how we become our truest selves under fire.
Crumbling under the pressure to revive his parents’ dying religion by “realizing” his cut and dry purpose in life (called his “Inevitable Philosophy”), the protagonist, Kenna, stumbles into the head chef and owner of the Sol Majestic, the most famous restaurant in the galaxy. After a life of asceticism, Kenna discovers food, and tries to balance his parents expectations with the new types of love he’s discovering at the Majestic, including the romantic love he bears towards another young man, an indentured servant in the kitchen, Benzo.
The passages describing food are the most evocative in the book, with the ability to make you crave chicken broth, grilled cheese, and oily noodles. The writing is terrific, and the book only really struggles with consistent pacing in the middle third but is a great 4/5 read for me. #SimilarBooks include This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
ecster's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Really enjoyed this book, gay scifi is right up my alley! Although some Escargone parts got very dark and I would have liked to see more about how Kenna ans Benzo became vegan at the end , it was full of larger than life characters and vivid description of food. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
azu's review
4.0
It was the first book by Ferret Steinmetz I read and I'm incredibly smitten. That being said, it wasn't love at first sight, I don't know if it's because English isn't my first langage but the first chapters were a bit difficult to get into but before I realized it... I was unable to stop turning the pages.
A really good story with great characters and an interesting world building. If you're looking for a nice SFF book with diverse characters and beautiful writing, it may be for you :)
A really good story with great characters and an interesting world building. If you're looking for a nice SFF book with diverse characters and beautiful writing, it may be for you :)
kananineko's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.5
(more like a 3.5 rounded up)
I randomly found this book at a Dollar Tree one day, thought the premise was vaguely intriguing, and thought why not pick it up? Because of that I didn't have the best expectations (although I have been pleasantly surprised by my Dollar Tree's books twice before*) but I loved this way more than I thought I would!
The main thing I loved about this book was the characters. I loved every character we were introduced to and thought they were all really well-fleshed out and unique. My favorite character was probably Montgomery, but the main character, Kenna would be a close second. I loved hearing the story through his point of view! I also loved the relationship between him and Benzo a lot. I cared about the characters and really wanted the best for them.
I also loved the setting so much! The author's descriptions of the setting (and the food, of course) was just amazing. This book made me realize how much I love space settings and made me want to read more sci-fi books!
Overall, I thought the writing was amazing, and I loved the ending/climax and the themes as well. But there were two things that made this not a 5-star read. First of all, the pacing. For the first half of this book, the pace felt, at least to me, very slow and like not much was happening. However, I continued because of how much I loved the characters, and I'm so glad I did because the pace sped up and more exciting things started happening in the second half of the book. (So if you're thinking about DNFing at the beginning, I get it, but I'd implore you to continue!) And my final complaint is the contstraint of the setting. Yes, I loved the space station and restaurant setting, but for a space book, I kind of wished I got to see more of the world, maybe different space stations, different planets, etc., but I understand that this isn't necessarily the type of sci-fi that warrants that. I just found the stable setting to be a bit constraining.
Overall, though, I really liked this book and I wish it had more ratings! I'll be recommending it!
*The two other books I really enjoyed that I found at my local Dollar Tree were Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling and The Truth Behind the Lie by Sara Lovestam. I recommend both of them! (Especially Qualityland if you want another fun sci-fi read, although that one is more of a dystopian)
I randomly found this book at a Dollar Tree one day, thought the premise was vaguely intriguing, and thought why not pick it up? Because of that I didn't have the best expectations (although I have been pleasantly surprised by my Dollar Tree's books twice before*) but I loved this way more than I thought I would!
The main thing I loved about this book was the characters. I loved every character we were introduced to and thought they were all really well-fleshed out and unique. My favorite character was probably Montgomery, but the main character, Kenna would be a close second. I loved hearing the story through his point of view! I also loved the relationship between him and Benzo a lot. I cared about the characters and really wanted the best for them.
I also loved the setting so much! The author's descriptions of the setting (and the food, of course) was just amazing. This book made me realize how much I love space settings and made me want to read more sci-fi books!
Overall, I thought the writing was amazing, and I loved the ending/climax and the themes as well. But there were two things that made this not a 5-star read. First of all, the pacing. For the first half of this book, the pace felt, at least to me, very slow and like not much was happening. However, I continued because of how much I loved the characters, and I'm so glad I did because the pace sped up and more exciting things started happening in the second half of the book. (So if you're thinking about DNFing at the beginning, I get it, but I'd implore you to continue!) And my final complaint is the contstraint of the setting. Yes, I loved the space station and restaurant setting, but for a space book, I kind of wished I got to see more of the world, maybe different space stations, different planets, etc., but I understand that this isn't necessarily the type of sci-fi that warrants that. I just found the stable setting to be a bit constraining.
Overall, though, I really liked this book and I wish it had more ratings! I'll be recommending it!
*The two other books I really enjoyed that I found at my local Dollar Tree were Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling and The Truth Behind the Lie by Sara Lovestam. I recommend both of them! (Especially Qualityland if you want another fun sci-fi read, although that one is more of a dystopian)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Classism, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Violence, Abandonment, Gore, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Drug use
Minor: Animal death, Death, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Torture
ruby42's review
DNF.
Comparing to Becky Chambers? I can appreciate that in terms of diverse characters in space only.
I got about 40% through. Story sounds interesting, but failed to draw me in. Feels extremely too long and the main character just doesn't have enough personality or isn't written in a way that I either care what happen to him.
It's written fine, just not for me.
Comparing to Becky Chambers? I can appreciate that in terms of diverse characters in space only.
I got about 40% through. Story sounds interesting, but failed to draw me in. Feels extremely too long and the main character just doesn't have enough personality or isn't written in a way that I either care what happen to him.
It's written fine, just not for me.