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uneasyrhetoric's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
wamboldt_t's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
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
bunrab's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating aliens, fascinating world-building - but a little bit confusing.
Earth is lost, and the settlers on New Earth have reached a working partnership with some aliens who found them - a somewhat uneasy working partnership. Prior to these aliens appearing, New Earth had its own space program, and had sent out settler ships of its own, but they were all presumed lost. Then a message appears from one of the ships that was successful, and suddenly the balance between humans and Kmet is changed.
Some of the reveals later in the book were somewhat predictable, but the details of how they happen are interesting. You may find yourself guessing; keep reading anyway!
The chapter titles are quotes - waiting to see what in the chapter they apply to is part of the fun! Also a lot of fun is Flip the AI, who is my favorite character more than any of the humans.
A few confusing bits - why the humans suddenly decide to stop referring to the settler worlds by the names of the ships they sent out, and start referring to them by numbers, is not at all clear. Also, throughout the book, New Earth is sometimes just referred to as Earth, and so one has to mentally check and make sure that no one is talking about Original Earth, presumed lost after contact is lost. A few things I won't specifically pick on, so as not to give away the plot, though.
I can see the potential for sequels involving some of the humans, and aliens, from the settler worlds that we meet - Beth Seeker, for example, probably has more to do and more places to be!
Earth is lost, and the settlers on New Earth have reached a working partnership with some aliens who found them - a somewhat uneasy working partnership. Prior to these aliens appearing, New Earth had its own space program, and had sent out settler ships of its own, but they were all presumed lost. Then a message appears from one of the ships that was successful, and suddenly the balance between humans and Kmet is changed.
Some of the reveals later in the book were somewhat predictable, but the details of how they happen are interesting. You may find yourself guessing; keep reading anyway!
The chapter titles are quotes - waiting to see what in the chapter they apply to is part of the fun! Also a lot of fun is Flip the AI, who is my favorite character more than any of the humans.
A few confusing bits - why the humans suddenly decide to stop referring to the settler worlds by the names of the ships they sent out, and start referring to them by numbers, is not at all clear. Also, throughout the book, New Earth is sometimes just referred to as Earth, and so one has to mentally check and make sure that no one is talking about Original Earth, presumed lost after contact is lost. A few things I won't specifically pick on, so as not to give away the plot, though.
I can see the potential for sequels involving some of the humans, and aliens, from the settler worlds that we meet - Beth Seeker, for example, probably has more to do and more places to be!
elctrc's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Hesitated to give 4 or 5 stars - if it weren't for the last 100 pages or so there would have been no hesitation. But I've also noticed ending sci Fi books seems to always be a struggle. Overall I found myself so immersed in the story and the characters and could not wait to pick it up each day, which to me is the highest praise.
gharrethadekyn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'll admit, I was a little hesitant when I first picked up To Each This World. I'm unsure if I'm more prone to expect more detailed and complicated prose than was first presented, but I struggled through the first few chapters. To Each This World is written in what seems to be a very informal tone: you have a direct line into each character's thoughts in an almost stream-of-consciousness manner. However, I'm glad to say I stuck it out, as I was hooked shortly after.
To Each This World is a galaxy-spanning adventure to save our (new) world and other worlds. The reader embarks on a journey with the characters to uncover the mysteries of lost colonists from a future Earth, only to find themselves on an emotional journey of discovering what it means to be part of a civilization.
To Each This World is a creatively crafted look into what social structures are, our influences on others, the ease in which we can be oblivious to misunderstandings, and just how simple it is to take our similarities for granted. All of this is wrapped up in an expedition to save humanity in whatever far reaches it resides.
Julie E. Czerneda manages to flesh out an exciting universe full of wonder, hope, and mystery while maintaining the excitement and pace of a race against time. This journey across the stars -- however expansive -- reminds us just how close we are and how a little bit of courage and hope have made us thrive as a species.
It's been a long time since I had a physically manifested emotional reaction to the end of a novel, but this one will go down in memory for a long time. I am excited for anyone to read this book, mainly so they might experience the same sense of renewed hope and wonder for humanity and life.
To Each This World is a galaxy-spanning adventure to save our (new) world and other worlds. The reader embarks on a journey with the characters to uncover the mysteries of lost colonists from a future Earth, only to find themselves on an emotional journey of discovering what it means to be part of a civilization.
To Each This World is a creatively crafted look into what social structures are, our influences on others, the ease in which we can be oblivious to misunderstandings, and just how simple it is to take our similarities for granted. All of this is wrapped up in an expedition to save humanity in whatever far reaches it resides.
Julie E. Czerneda manages to flesh out an exciting universe full of wonder, hope, and mystery while maintaining the excitement and pace of a race against time. This journey across the stars -- however expansive -- reminds us just how close we are and how a little bit of courage and hope have made us thrive as a species.
It's been a long time since I had a physically manifested emotional reaction to the end of a novel, but this one will go down in memory for a long time. I am excited for anyone to read this book, mainly so they might experience the same sense of renewed hope and wonder for humanity and life.
kjshort's review
3.0
Overall an enjoyable read with a plot that moved along at a good pace.
Humans on New Earth partner with alien allies to rescue descendants of sleeper ships sent out two hundred years ago from a mysterious threat.
The premise and ending felt reminiscent of a Star Trek episode in the exploration of larger concepts - communicating wth different species, working for the greater good, who and what can you trust - alongside advanced technology with an appreciation for the natural world.
Where it fell flat for me was in mainly in the writing - both prose and how the plot unfolded. A few other reviewers mentioned that the prose was a bit choppy, and there was some unusual use of contractions.
In addition to the prose, there were so many hidden agendas, conspiracy theories, and assumptions being made by the characters without confirmation, that conversations were hard to follow and I never felt like we learned what was really happening.
The last planet visited and the conclusion was a little off in the pacing. The amount of time and detail put into the last planet was substantially more than any of the other worlds, however the ending still felt rushed and I don’t feel like it was fully explained but rather inferred from assumptions made earlier in the novel.
That being said, it was engaging and I enjoyed the experience of reading it. If you are happy to go along for the ride without needing the full picture at the end, it’s worth picking it up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions about the book.
Humans on New Earth partner with alien allies to rescue descendants of sleeper ships sent out two hundred years ago from a mysterious threat.
The premise and ending felt reminiscent of a Star Trek episode in the exploration of larger concepts - communicating wth different species, working for the greater good, who and what can you trust - alongside advanced technology with an appreciation for the natural world.
Where it fell flat for me was in mainly in the writing - both prose and how the plot unfolded. A few other reviewers mentioned that the prose was a bit choppy, and there was some unusual use of contractions.
In addition to the prose, there were so many hidden agendas, conspiracy theories, and assumptions being made by the characters without confirmation, that conversations were hard to follow and I never felt like we learned what was really happening.
The last planet visited and the conclusion was a little off in the pacing. The amount of time and detail put into the last planet was substantially more than any of the other worlds, however the ending still felt rushed and I don’t feel like it was fully explained but rather inferred from assumptions made earlier in the novel.
That being said, it was engaging and I enjoyed the experience of reading it. If you are happy to go along for the ride without needing the full picture at the end, it’s worth picking it up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions about the book.
lyleblosser's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful characters, unique aliens, well-constructed universe, with just the right amount of danger, mystery, and heart-felt emotion.
nisherwood's review against another edition
5.0
The aliens were well and truly alien which was nice, the tech too. Gives me Arrival vibes.
shebephoebe's review against another edition
4.0
This book grabbed me from the first page. The exposition and world-building were well-balanced, especially considering all of the background and technology that needed to be coherently introduced. It may have been easier to physically read this one with all of the unfamiliar terms and name structures (I felt the same way with The Goblin Emperor); and one of the three narrators did a horrible job differentiating between characters when there was heavy dialogue. (The other two narrators were fantastic.) It was an entertaining read with just the right amount of twists to keep me guessing.
Also, I love it when an author's personal interests shine through like they did here (Czerneda is a biologist).