Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey

12 reviews

bickleyhouse's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is the second book in the series of The Expanse, written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, under the pseudonym James S.A. Corey. Just like its predecessor, this 600 page book doesn't feel that long. Granted, there is a blank page between most of the chapters but that only accounts for just over fifty of the pages. What I'm saying is that this book reads fast. It holds my interest and it, for the most part, doesn't dawdle.

I love this series, so far. I've seen several seasons of the TV show, so I'm still playing catch-up with the books, but they seem to have followed the story fairly closely in the show. I will say that I like Amos a lot more in the books than I do in the TV show.

In this book, we are introduced to Sargeant Roberta Draper, who likes to be called "Bobbi" or "Gunny." She is a Martian soldier, and she is huge, compared to Earthers. At the beginning of the story, she and her squad mates are faced with a monster that is composed of the protomolecule that James Holden and company faced on Eros in the first book. Bobbie Draper is the only survivor. She winds up meeting the assistant to the undersecretary of executive administration of the UN, Chrisjen Avasarala. I absolutely love this character. I liked her in the TV show (I think she was perfectly cast), and I like her even more in the books. 

We are also dealing with a situation on Ganymede, where a doctor's child (Mei) has been kidnapped because of an immunity disorder that she has. A number of other children were kidnapped, as well. Her father, Praxidike (we just call him Prax), is looking for her, and hires Holden and company to help him. 

That's as far into the plot as I will go, here. But the writing continues to be engaging, and, as I said, it doesn't feel like a 600 page book at all. These guys have done a marvelous job of crafting a great science fiction story. I look forward to reading more.

There is some great humor in this story, as well. The interactions between the characters makes me laugh frequently, especially when we are focused on James Holden, Naomi, Alex (the pilot) and Amos. The banter between them is reminiscent of the banter that flows between the Soobs on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There is one thing I may have missed, though. I don't get the reference to the title. Who, or what, is Caliban?? It's very possible I just glossed over it, while reading. 

I recommend this book, this series, to any lover of planetary science fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing

septaria's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Murder, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Kidnapping

rachaelbunny's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, War, Gore, Child death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Trafficking, Xenophobia, Body horror, Kidnapping, and Grief

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Pedophilia, Chronic illness, and Domestic abuse

thedinosaurkid's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Cursing, and Death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Genocide, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

jvanwago's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

I liked this appreciably more than Leviathan Wakes. In Caliban’s War, the pace slows from the frenetic bombard of it predecessor. There is time for past-due character development as well as the introduction of some likable new players. Holden is less irritating and we get to know Amos and Alex better. 

Although this is a somewhat pessimistic vision of the future, I really enjoy the inclusion of heroes as opposed to the evermore prevalent antiheroes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

linneak's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, Genocide, Classism, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexism, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

joshoonet's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

• Took a while for me to get into it, but then I didn't want to put it down again. Just like the first part!
• Avasarala is kind of incredible, her constant cursing is just hilarious
• Character development: top notch imo
• I love the changing of the protomolecule, it keeps getting more interesting and more high stakes
• The end??? Um I need to continue immediately
• Proper fucking diverse characters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Gun violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Murder, Violence, and Child death

Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

iono's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Grief, and Kidnapping

Moderate: War, Racism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, and Cursing

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Vomit, and Pedophilia

ekcd_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Medical content, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, and War

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts

loxeletters's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Gore, and Gun violence

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Child death, and Medical content

Minor: Racism, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Incest, and Excrement