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acasez's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and War
moonbasket's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
I loved this book. It was awesome to have no human POV characters and to get a more intricate look into Chambers' world building. I love how she writes about language and communication. It was a great conclusion to a series that was unlike an other Sci-Fi series I have ever read. I hope other authors follow her lead.
Also, Chambers shows a true understanding of what being a twin means and uses Speaker and Tracker's relationship well without belittling it or making it an obvious prop. I think their relationship was extremely sweet and realistic. It reminded me a lot of my relationship with my twin sister.
Also, Chambers shows a true understanding of what being a twin means and uses Speaker and Tracker's relationship well without belittling it or making it an obvious prop. I think their relationship was extremely sweet and realistic. It reminded me a lot of my relationship with my twin sister.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Medical content
Moderate: Alcohol and War
Minor: Ableism, Death, Death of parent, and Colonisation
amerid's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
After the last book being very human-heavy, this book offers a nice and diverse cross section of the sapients in the universe.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Medical content, Colonisation, and War
compassrosa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: War
plantdonut's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Racism, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: medical trauma, war mention, colonisation mention
The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers is the last book in the Wayfarers series. This was an excellent conclusion to this world. To be honest I could just keep reading stories based on this forever, always learning more and expanding on worldbuilding. This one was the coziest yet of the four books.
We follow three aliens that are thrown together by circumstances out of their control, and must navigate five days together. We have Pei, the Aeluon who is dating Ashby from book 1; Roveg, an exiled Quelin sim creator; and Speaker, an Akarak separated from her twin. They are all under the care of their chipper host, a Laru named Ouloo and her child Tupo. They all learn about each other and their species, and form unlikely friendships.
One of the things I love about this series is that the stories are not high stakes. These are just people stranded on a plant due to a technology hiccup and just have to hang out with each other for five days. Chambers does an excellent job with expanding the world-building (universe building?) with each successive book. I love that all the characters were different aliens we have seen mentioned or had cameos in previous books, and none of them were human focused stories. We learn so much about Aeluon, Quelin, Laru, and Akaraks.
While it is quite a cozy read, Chambers also manages to give us some deeper themes around colonization and its lasting impact along with the arrogance of imperialism. She also talks about reproductive choice, and choosing to not become a parent. She explores political themes without making that the point of the story. In the end, it's about the character moments. I absolutely loved Roveg and Speaker as friends. Adorable. Tupo is an adorable long limbed fluff noodle I just want to squeeze.
If I haven't said it once, I'll say it a thousand times: go read this series! Becky Chambers is now one of my favorite authors.
The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers is the last book in the Wayfarers series. This was an excellent conclusion to this world. To be honest I could just keep reading stories based on this forever, always learning more and expanding on worldbuilding. This one was the coziest yet of the four books.
We follow three aliens that are thrown together by circumstances out of their control, and must navigate five days together. We have Pei, the Aeluon who is dating Ashby from book 1; Roveg, an exiled Quelin sim creator; and Speaker, an Akarak separated from her twin. They are all under the care of their chipper host, a Laru named Ouloo and her child Tupo. They all learn about each other and their species, and form unlikely friendships.
One of the things I love about this series is that the stories are not high stakes. These are just people stranded on a plant due to a technology hiccup and just have to hang out with each other for five days. Chambers does an excellent job with expanding the world-building (universe building?) with each successive book. I love that all the characters were different aliens we have seen mentioned or had cameos in previous books, and none of them were human focused stories. We learn so much about Aeluon, Quelin, Laru, and Akaraks.
While it is quite a cozy read, Chambers also manages to give us some deeper themes around colonization and its lasting impact along with the arrogance of imperialism. She also talks about reproductive choice, and choosing to not become a parent. She explores political themes without making that the point of the story. In the end, it's about the character moments. I absolutely loved Roveg and Speaker as friends. Adorable. Tupo is an adorable long limbed fluff noodle I just want to squeeze.
If I haven't said it once, I'll say it a thousand times: go read this series! Becky Chambers is now one of my favorite authors.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma
Minor: Colonisation and War
amyreh's review against another edition
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy and War
lemonsaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, and Confinement
Moderate: Infertility, Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Alcohol
grace_b_3's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and War
heliofoe's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Three Wayfarers books are a vibe rather than a story as such. They're about characters and a hopeful future. They make a nice break from heavier build because although they can't get deep the characters are always pretty nice people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Xenophobia