Reviews

Tiamat's Wrath by James S.A. Corey

ai_burtle's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

whip_lash's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

lucawartna's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring 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

5.0

I keep repeating myself in these reviews, but how does every book turn out to be better than the one before it?!
I loved this instalment. It again added more depth to the society and all the political intrigue and games, and what effect it has on people. And again, relationships are portrayed beautifully and realistically, as is the growth some characters go through. 
I am sad that I’m at the end of the series, but also super excited to read how it’ll end!

tomasthanes's review against another edition

4.0

This is the 8th book in the 9 book "The Expanse" series and what an incredible story.

**Spoilers** It starts with the death of Avasarala which helps move you far enough into the future that you know that all of the characters are much older (despite medical technology to reduce the effects of aging).

Meanwhile, imagine that you're standing near the center of our solar system (okay, not exactly at the center of the Sun because that would be "hot" but somewhere functionally centric). You have an arm of infinite strength that can throw things far enough that they land in the outer plants. You've thrown James Holden in one direction (followed by Amos Burton), Naomi Nagata in another, Alex and Bobbie in yet another direction. And don't forget the Rocinante; it's in mothballs in one of the ring gateway systems. It's going to take some incredible writing to bring them all back together.

There is new technology in the novel (which one would expect after a significant passage of time). For example, the new full-submersion crash couches with breathable fluid. I liked the details about how the Underground hid their information transfers inside of slow, modulated encrypted noise ("bottles").

Who knew that repair drones could turn Tim's dead body into a reasonable facsimile of the original person. Plus the 2 children, Cara and Xan. No one expected that there would be zombies in The Expanse; all we're missing now are sparkly vampires.

Plus we get quotes like:

* "A lot more kings and princesses got poisoned by their friends than eaten by bears."

* "I'm sorry ... that my deep existential panic at the prospect of your death hasn't faded as quickly as yours."

* "nutritive slurry in eight different flavors"

* "it wasn't strange to run a low-grade fever when a limb was regrowing"

* "oncocidal-resistant cancer"

* "The universe is always stranger than you think"

This book nicely ties up nearly all of the loose ends. The most powerful (Laconian) ship in the Sol system, the Tempest, turns out not to be invincible. The invincible Laconian empire turns out to not be invincible (but not because of any massive strength wielded by underground led by Naomi).

Now, all we have to do is find out who the aliens are behind the protomolecule. That's all.

toastmeister's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

This turned out to be one of my favorite Expanse books. Action packed and fun.

pyrimatos's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

phonophobia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

4.5

tdorrough's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

stardustrohrig's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.75

Often times the middle book (or movie series) of a trilogy is more of a bridge to fighting the big bad than a story that resolves anything. Not so with this book. Which is why I enjoy it a lot. Granted it has its slow parts and some things are a little tedious but it’s a good book and I enjoy all the different point of view characters. Without spoiling too much a good chunk of the primary problem is resolved. I love the way the crew of the Rocinante are fighting their own fights as they work their way back together. I like that we see one of the pervious characters returned (Elvi Okoye) and a new character (Teresa) who has to figure out where she belongs in the universe. 

deadbolt_iii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-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

5.0