Reviews

I really enjoyed this one. As others have said its a mixture of heist and murder mystery with a bit of mysterious backstory added for good measure. While it shares a lot of similarities with The Tea Master and the Detective, both characters are much more approachable and open with each other in this one, even as they keep secrets from each other. As always de Bodard does a lot in a relatively short space of time, but the story never feels rushed or hurried.

memoriast's review

Go to review page

Library book

buta_comes_home's review

Go to review page

4.0

Each Xuya universe novella manages to be different from the last with distinct characters and plot lines while still typically being mystery solving in space. With sentient spaceships (in case you haven’t read any others yet!) who are characters in their own right.

This one has a student, a teacher, a scholar (arguably), a body (although more do have a tendency to appear), and an unexpected solution when everything comes to head... what is of value and what is important aren’t always the same thing and Aliette de Bodard frames this beautifully with relationship dynamics in a way most writers flounder.

tanekaberi's review

Go to review page

4.0

Very enjoyable edition to the Xuya universe. I really love the universe Aliette de Bodard has created. S0 much I don't know that is being referenced and yet I get it. One day I guess I will run some of this down but not yet - I really like the feeling of vaguely familiar yet still not of my world or my experience that these stories create.

bookbrig's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

4.0

I bought this for myself as a birthday treat and it was so worth it. There's so much packed into this, it was fascinating to read each new reveal and watch the romance and the danger develop. I really need to read some of this author's longer works.

Content Warnings

schomj's review

Go to review page

3.0

For some reason I went into this thinking it would be a sequel to [b:The Tea Master and the Detective|36686547|The Tea Master and the Detective (The Universe of Xuya)|Aliette de Bodard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511987651l/36686547._SX50_.jpg|58480498] and it's absolutely not. So I started off feeling a bit confused. It's also not really a mystery, though there is a mystery plot line, it's really more of a melodrama that felt like AdB's Dominion series.

There were also some parts in the middle that confused me a little with how it was written, though again this could have been just me being easily confused and not the actual writing.

So temporary 3 stars because that's how I feel now, but I anticipate re-reading this in conjunction with Tea Master at some point, and I'll update this if I need to.

CW: body horror, kissing and references to sex (f/f), murder

sundew's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

More...