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fionamclary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
A compact conclusion to an expansive series, taking place in a limited area of one small planet over the course of five days and involving only five characters for the vast majority of the book, yet retaining the sense of vastness and diversity of the galaxy built up in previous books and exemplified by the unlikely group we encounter in book 4. I especially enjoyed having an Akarak POV character. This disabled anarchocommunist bird woman has my whole heart. Becky Chambers has created a unique species with a tragic history of colonization and cultural genocide, now living on the fringes in a fascinating social structure. The contrast with having an Aeluon POV character (recurring from book 1!) allowed for especially nuanced cultural and political commentary. And of course, Roveg the Quelin is an icon, the party-hosting, food-offering, considerate exile artist we all wish we had in our lives. I'd like to be his friend please and thank you. As always, Becky Chambers develops complex analyses and critiques of the world she has created that are unique to this scifi universe as well as mapping onto our own world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Genocide, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Medical content
Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, War, Violence, and Vomit
caryndi's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
It's been so long since I read the previous books in the Wayfarers series that I only have vague impressions of them. However, since we're jumping in with a new cast of characters that's only tangentially related to the prequels, I didn't feel lost.
If this book was a TV episode, I'd call it a bottle episode: The main characters all ended up stuck together for the majority of the book. The conflict was largely interpersonal/internal, and fairly low-stakes, which is in line with this series/Becky Chambers' work in general. The driving idea was that vulnerability can bring people together, and even individuals who disagree with each other on major points (and may not ever agree) can learn from each other. I enjoyed spending the brief few days with these characters, watching how they had interactions that would change the course of their lives—maybe in subtle ways, but in lasting ones. This was a gentle and hopeful read full of the idea that people can come together to help each other when times are hard.
If this book was a TV episode, I'd call it a bottle episode: The main characters all ended up stuck together for the majority of the book. The conflict was largely interpersonal/internal, and fairly low-stakes, which is in line with this series/Becky Chambers' work in general. The driving idea was that vulnerability can bring people together, and even individuals who disagree with each other on major points (and may not ever agree) can learn from each other. I enjoyed spending the brief few days with these characters, watching how they had interactions that would change the course of their lives—maybe in subtle ways, but in lasting ones. This was a gentle and hopeful read full of the idea that people can come together to help each other when times are hard.
Content Warnings
Minor: Vomit, War, Xenophobia, and Medical content
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I didn't expect to like this book even better than the other three, but it is probably my favourite one in this series. Although I suppose it could be read as a standalone, the careful world building over the three previous books really pays off. The plot is minimal: five very different people are stranded on a remote planet for a few days and get to know each other. This may not sound like a gripping story, but I was absorbed and I feel like the characters are my friends now.
My only complaint is that this is seemingly the last book in the series. I would read many more.
My only complaint is that this is seemingly the last book in the series. I would read many more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Alcohol, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: War, Colonisation, and Sexual content
eleanora's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Medical content, Alcohol, War, and Colonisation
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
4.0
I really respect how she writes children; it's beautiful when you can tell that someone likes and respects children in real life by how they write child characters. There is so much love in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Minor: Violence, Genocide, Deportation, Slavery, and War
annamorgan27's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
scifi_rat's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Plot: 3.75★
Prose: 3★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4.5★/3.25★
Characters: 3.25★
Worldbuilding: 4.75★
Ending: 3.25
Prose: 3★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4.5★/3.25★
Characters: 3.25★
Worldbuilding: 4.75★
Ending: 3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Cursing, Deportation, Grief, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Confinement
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, Vomit, and War
ananthousflorist's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Medical content
analenegrace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ugh I love Becky Chambers and this series so much! I wish there was more in this universe although I understand how this was a great place to end it. Tupo was my favorite character and I would love to know the character's grown-up life at some point @becky
This one was particularly good because its the first not human narrated and instead gives great insight into the non-human aspect of this universe that is only really hinted at in the other books.
This one was particularly good because its the first not human narrated and instead gives great insight into the non-human aspect of this universe that is only really hinted at in the other books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and War
Minor: Xenophobia
shadereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: War