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opulentshrimp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
percival_whyborne's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
opulentshrimp's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
I relish my time spent in the Xuya universe! And this book adds some very satisfying and unique romance in the mix.
novella42's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.25
invisibleninjacat's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This universe is lots of fun. I do want more worldbuilding details, though - how do the bots work, and what do they look like? What are the avatar bodies made of, and how physical are they?
cybergoths's review against another edition
5.0
Another novella by Aliette de Bodard in her Xuya universe. There are shadows of 'The Tea Master and the Detective' in this, as this is an investigation involving a ship mind and a scholar. It's a delightful read, as a lower class scholar tries to stop her world unravelling against the class structures of the Empire after a body is found.
tinyjude's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
liacooper's review
4.0
3.75* the third act, some of the backstory and some of the character motivations didnt really land for me and i cant tell if i was distracted while reading the middle or if it's a bit of a cultural barrier preventing me from really resonating with the conclusion of the mystery plot but i just dont so there it is. not my favorite in the universe but i'll definitely continue to read more from Bodard
emmacatereads's review
4.0
Who ever knew a spaceship could make me feel so romantic?
Seven of Infinites is at once a murder mystery, a space opera, and a heartwarming romance. Vân is a scholar with a secret--the memory implant in her mind who assists her scholarship isn't sanctioned at all, but rather a creation of her own design. 'The Wild Orchid in Sunless Woods' is a mindship in Vân's poetry club, once a dashing and high-profile thief, now living a semi-retired life in space. The two are drawn together by the mystery of a body discovered in the quarters of Vân's student.
I have limited experience with de Bodard's Xuya Universe besides the remarkable 'Tea Master and the Detective’, but I found this novella to be on par with that one, if not exceeding it. The world-building insinuated itself throughout the story in clever details that caught my attention—personal bots worn as jewelry, holographic street food designed for consumption by the walking avatars of ships--all of it was artfully constructed and not overwhelming. Furthermore, Vân and Sunless Woods were compelling protagonists. I was especially enraptured by the artful and alien descriptions of Sunless Woods—at once a vast spaceship and a human-esque avatar—and the way that her years of experience and knowledge guarded a tender, human core. Vân was brave and driven and I sympathized with her plight as a broader meditation on class and the accessibility of scholarship. Their romance was delightful and unique and had me murmuring "awww" quietly to myself in my living room. I'm a sucker for well-writen sapphics :)
As always, I'm struck by de Bodard's ability to weave together Vietnamese culture, social commentary, and well-paced action to create an irresistible story. Seven of Inifinites was an all-around good read.
Seven of Infinites is at once a murder mystery, a space opera, and a heartwarming romance. Vân is a scholar with a secret--the memory implant in her mind who assists her scholarship isn't sanctioned at all, but rather a creation of her own design. 'The Wild Orchid in Sunless Woods' is a mindship in Vân's poetry club, once a dashing and high-profile thief, now living a semi-retired life in space. The two are drawn together by the mystery of a body discovered in the quarters of Vân's student.
I have limited experience with de Bodard's Xuya Universe besides the remarkable 'Tea Master and the Detective’, but I found this novella to be on par with that one, if not exceeding it. The world-building insinuated itself throughout the story in clever details that caught my attention—personal bots worn as jewelry, holographic street food designed for consumption by the walking avatars of ships--all of it was artfully constructed and not overwhelming. Furthermore, Vân and Sunless Woods were compelling protagonists. I was especially enraptured by the artful and alien descriptions of Sunless Woods—at once a vast spaceship and a human-esque avatar—and the way that her years of experience and knowledge guarded a tender, human core. Vân was brave and driven and I sympathized with her plight as a broader meditation on class and the accessibility of scholarship. Their romance was delightful and unique and had me murmuring "awww" quietly to myself in my living room. I'm a sucker for well-writen sapphics :)
As always, I'm struck by de Bodard's ability to weave together Vietnamese culture, social commentary, and well-paced action to create an irresistible story. Seven of Inifinites was an all-around good read.
anywiebs's review
2.0
You might enjoy this more than I did. I couldn't get any connection to the characters, didn't enjoy the writing as much as I usually do, and the murder mystery didn't grab me at all.
I have been in a funk, so that might have made things worse and I found myself thinking this would be a great graphic novel, but think it was mostly me being incapable of turning words into pictures in my head.
I have been in a funk, so that might have made things worse and I found myself thinking this would be a great graphic novel, but think it was mostly me being incapable of turning words into pictures in my head.