Scan barcode
renatus_permuto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
- It makes plenty of callbacks to the previous entries, making it a more cohesive story.
- Becomes an epic narrative the further the books progresses. It’s rather… trippy toward the end.
- Expands greatly on the concept of dark forest. However sometimes it feels unnecessary (
cleasing gene and hiding gene ) or doesn’t always make much sense (if the Universe is a dark forest, how do groups such as the Zero-Homer or Returners; In the end did the Trisolarans establish good relations with Humanity or just Cheng Xin and Yifan?; ) - There are a lot of massive plot twists as per the previous entries. Most are very good, but some leave a lot to be desired (
the return of Yun Tianming only to then not reuniting with Cheng Xin because billions of years come to pass ) - Some plot lines could have been better explored for better world building (
the new Human worlds ) or emotional purposes (the destruction of the Solar System felt rather cold without paying much attention to Humanity itself ), but this is a concept-driven story, so it’s acceptable
Graphic: War, Genocide, and Violence
Minor: Sexism
blau_elmo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story is expansive, and it brings up many amazing sci-fi concepts almost seamlessly, using grand metaphors and events to illustrate these concepts. Everything feels like one great step after another, and the sheer breadth of it all is breathtaking. It is a book with incomprehensible scale.
The characters and the interactions between them are representative of concepts and clans within civilisations rather than actual individuals, which is befitting for a book of such a scale.
The only thing I can really say is that I am truly in awe at this trilogy. Jaw-dropping.
Moderate: Genocide and War
maddie_can_read's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I think Liu partially redeemed the lack of developed female characters in the second novel by having the main character and a secondary character be women.
However, I think the author has some odd notions about femininity that are expressed throughout the novel. Obviously it was translated and Eastern and Western cultures have different broad views.
Loved the weird stuff.
Explored some very interesting concepts.
A book structure spoiler:
Spoiler Spoilers:
I enjoyed the friendship between Ai AA and Cheng but wished it were more developed.
Loved that Luo Ji came back and his character development. Feels weird because the novel is pretty long and meanders a lot but then at the end it feels a bit rushed. I was hoping to see more about 4d space, Yun's time with the Trisolarians/ how he got a body, what did he and Ai do for the rest of their lives etc
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Body horror, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Classism, Deportation, Gore, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Cannibalism, Grief, and Blood
dragonfiddler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Genocide, War, and Death
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Death, and Violence
Moderate: War, Misogyny, and Body horror
Minor: Cannibalism, Ableism, and Gun violence
malessia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Violence, War, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Cancer
coralswank's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, War, Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
npr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Terminal illness, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide, War, Car accident, Genocide, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic relationship
mandkips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: War, Misogyny, and Body horror
Minor: Gun violence, Ableism, and Sexism
shermansays's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Cannibalism