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ryraeriv's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Chilling Effect is a fun romp through space that follows Captain Eva Innocente and her crew as they try to make money, survive, and kinda, save the universe. All in all, this is a fun, light-hearted book with a very interesting concept that doesn't take itself too seriously. The main character verges on unlikable, swinging wildly from self-pitying to brazenly reckless, but she also has some wonderfully funny and honest moments. The plot is fast paced and keeps you engaged but some aspects of it seem unnecessary and add little to the development of the story. A large chunk of this book relies on a version of the miscommunication trope, which I personally detest, but it definitely made me feel things. The side characters can come off as a little one dimensional in scenes but they serve their purpose and the diverse array of representation (race, gender, sexual orientation, alien species) is a definite bonus. Valdes manages to build up a sci-fi world that is well thought out and easy to understand without spoon-feeding every aspect of it to the reader. This book was worth the read and makes me want to continue on with the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Murder, and Sexual harassment
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